Since Donald Trump became the president of America, we’ve heard a lot about a supposed “crisis” at the border.
Though it turns out there there is a crisis – it’s just not the one (or even the border) that you might expect.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), sightings of “feral hogs” along the northern US-Canadian border have increased significantly. The prospect of the influx of hogs is concerning wildlife experts.
Sound familiar?
Not long ago, in the aftermath of horrific mass shootings in Drayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, “30-50 feral hogs” took over the internet.
The meme began when a man on Twitter suggested that he needed an automatic gun to kill “30-50 feral hogs” that run through his garden.
@JasonIsbell Legit question for rural Americans - How do I kill the 30-50 feral hogs that run into my yard within 3… https://t.co/mm7x3IckIj— Willie McNabb 🐗 (@Willie McNabb 🐗) 1564934491
The tweet launched thousands of memes.
when you see 30-50 feral hogs are on their way back to your yard https://t.co/2OdTwZyYk4— Robby Kalland (@Robby Kalland) 1565031163
@WillieMcNabb @JasonIsbell Live look at William's yard https://t.co/OB94aIMrUs— The Immunity Haver (@The Immunity Haver) 1565029837
@WillieMcNabb @JasonIsbell https://t.co/ujz4AR6i3T— jamison🕴🏻 (@jamison🕴🏻) 1565030532
But given this new information, was the man… Right?
Dale Nolte of the USDA’s National Feral Swine Program told the Daily Inter Lake:
Multiple people say that if we were to design an invasive species that would do the most widespread damage, feral swine aren’t too far off from being the perfect specimen.
It would be a disaster.
The feral hogs can damage local environments and can even be aggressive and carry diseases. Ryan Brook, a researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, says:
There is a general denial that wild pigs are a critical issue.
At the time William McNabb - the Arkansas father and business owner behind the memes - said that he was simply "bringing attention to a real issue in rural areas".
But after many jokes, which he says he can "find the humour" in, he may be vindicated by these new findings.
OH MY GOD HE WAS RIGHT https://t.co/sjTbHWHsNo— National Security Counselors (@National Security Counselors) 1568256331
HT: The Guardian