Scott City man says teen used bow to kill pet potbellied pig

Scott City authorities are investigating a report of a pet pig found slain Tuesday by a bow and arrow.

Craig Ancell, of 112 Rock Levee Road, said his Vietnamese potbelly pig Mary was killed by a 16-year-old boy with a bow and arrow after the animal had gotten out from a fenced-in yard Tuesday night.

Scott City police are investigating the incident and would submit a report to the county prosecuting attorney's office, chief Don Cobb said.

When the pig was killed, it was in a farmer's cornfield off Ancell's property, according to Cobb. No arrests were made.

"I wouldn't really be pursuing the whole matter, but the kid was very rude about the whole situation," Ancell said. He claimed the boy shot the pig intentionally and later said he thought it was a feral hog.

Though not native to Missouri, feral hogs are found in the state. They can include potbelly pigs or farm swine that escaped, according to Martensen.

Feral hogs are known to create "havoc" to local habitats and crop fields, Missouri Department of Conservation field program supervisor Rex Martensen said.

"They're a fairly serious concern," he said.

Laws for hunting feral hogs are "very lax," Martensen said, and the animals could be hunted year-round with a several different weapons and few restrictions.

Any hog without visible ear tags or other identification seen roaming freely on public or private lands without permission are "kind of fair game," Martensen said.

But Ancell said Mary, who weighed about 350 pounds, did not resemble a feral hog at all and the 16-year-old boy was seen standing next to the animal for several minutes before killing it.

"She was my baby, I don't want this to be swept under the rug," Ancell said.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127