In unincorporated Hidalgo County, loose livestock is handled through Texas state law, not a county animal code. The Agriculture Code lets a county adopt a stock law restricting animals from running at large, and lets the sheriff impound estrays found roaming.
Hidalgo County does not publish a county livestock ordinance; livestock control runs on Texas statutes. Under Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 143, a county may hold an election to adopt a stock law barring horses, mules, cattle, hogs, sheep, or goats from running at large, and where one is in force the owner must fence those animals. Whether one applies here is set by county election records, so confirm the local range status before grazing animals unfenced. Separately, Agriculture Code Chapter 142 lets the sheriff impound an 'estray,' meaning stray livestock roaming on a public road or another's land, and hold or sell it if unclaimed. Even in open range, livestock may not roam onto a U.S. or state highway.
Allowing covered livestock to run at large where a stock law applies is unlawful, and estrays on roads or another's property may be impounded and, if unclaimed, sold under Agriculture Code Chapter 142.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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