San Jose City Council Approves Shooting Of Wild Pigs
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – The San Jose City Council has passed an emergency ordinance allowing for the state-permitted shooting of wild pigs, which have caused thousands of dollars of damage to lawns and golf course fairways in Almaden Valley.
The ordinance was passed on Tuesday at the urging of San Jose City Councilman Johnny Khamis, who represents the area.
San Jose City Council Approves Shooting Of Wild Pigs
"A lot of people don't understand how big these animals actually are, how intimidating they look to the public and how much damage they're actually doing," he said.
Council Member Rose Herrera cast one of the three no votes.
"I don't think it's a good idea to enact this in haste without getting this worked out," she said. "I'm concerned, who is going to have the gun? Who is going to be allowed to do this, and what are the things that our own city staff realize we have to work out? I'd rather see us go back, work out some of these details, and bring this thing back."
The ordinance allows a person licensed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to trap and then shoot the wild pigs.
Khamis said he doesn't want to commit "pig genocide," but rather to make sure residents aren't harmed by the animals, many of which weigh as much as 200 pounds.
The ordinance will be in effect for three months.
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