Potbelly pig captured after being spotted on ADOT construction property

AVONDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - Sometimes, freeway projects come with big challenges, but the Arizona Department of Transportation never expected their construction to stop because of a potbelly pig.

ADOT says the pig, named Pixie, was spotted on their property along the corridor for the planned state Route 30 in Avondale. The property had been a mini farm, and to safely remove Pixie, ADOT called the Arizona Game and Fish Department and some rescue groups for help.

However, what seemed like a simple rescue to get Pixie off the property and into a new home turned into a weeks-long adventure. “We were able to get her close to a humane trap but never in it,” said Southwest Team Leader Carrianne Frary from the Humane Animal Rescue and Trapping Team (HARTT).

Crews worked quickly to catch Pixie as the contracted work to remove the building was coming up. However, ADOT Right-of-Way Administrator Paula Gibson postponed the removal since Pixie was still on the loose. “Pixie is very large,” said Ed Green, a hazardous material coordinator with ADOT’s Environmental Planning Group. “We did make good use of a Halloween pumpkin as part of her snacking menu.”

The property was several acres, with lots of room to wander around, and Pixie would come and go as she pleased. Frary even tried to catch her using sweet treats. “I spent more on her food than my own! Her favorite was Cheerios. We added donuts, strawberries and other snacks to her diet,” she said.

The volunteers set up a video camera to try and track the pesky pig. However, they soon discovered that other animals like javelinas, skunks, raccoons, and a large cat were helping themselves to the delicious bait.

Soon, a custom trap was built by the HARTT team and an ADOT engineer in training to catch Pixie. “We figured out the original trap wouldn’t work. That led to some great teamwork to repurpose what had been a pen for chickens,” said Frary. The larger trap included a special door triggered by a laser beam. “We had so many close calls in our attempts to help Pixie,” said Frary. “I knew exactly when she went in this time. It was a big relief.”

Pixie was captured just before Christmas and relocated to a Cave Creek-area ranch operated by Better Piggies Rescue. Dannielle Betterman from the rescue says Pixie is about 2 years old. “She has several other friends on our property, including some of our older pigs,” she said.

The “Perils of Pixie” are now over, thanks to the teamwork of ADOT and HARTT, and ADOT has since cleared the property where Pixie once roamed.

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