It’s important for pig owners to understand their pet’s basic instincts, and burrowing is one of those habits it does all the time.
Why do pigs burrow? Pigs normally burrow or dig into the ground to look for food. It is also an act that brings comfort to pigs and can help calm them down.
Burrowing is a behavior that comes to pigs by instinct, giving you a good look of its nature and possible genetic lineage. Probably a better term that we can use for this action when it comes to pigs, however, is “rooting”.
Burrowing may be used more often to describe animals that dig to build tunnels, while pigs dig to forage or root.
As you read more, you’ll find out more about the main reasons why pigs burrow or root.
Reasons Why Pigs Burrow or Root
Pig owners who have a sizable yard would notice their pig digging holes all over the place when given the opportunity to do so. This comes naturally to pigs because they are born foragers.
There are a number of reasons why pigs burrow or root.
- To look for food
The primary purpose of rooting for pigs would be to look for food. It’s an instinct that they do not lose even if they are domesticated pets.
You see, pigs out in the wild are forced to look for their own food. They have the perfect tools that allow them to dig through soil, foliage, and the like — their thick leathery snout and their amazing sense of smell. These allow them to find treats and treasures in the most unlikely places.
Here’s an interesting fact. Pigs are so good in rooting and foraging that farmers actually use them to find truffles. This is a practice normally done in Europe and in North America. In fact, they are able to detect the presence of truffles from up to 3 feet below the ground.
- For comfort
Did you know that piglets actually nudge their mother’s teat to let the milk come out? Because of this instinct as a baby, “nudging” at something (an action similar to rooting) has become a source of comfort for pigs.
This is why after weaning, pigs love rooting against blankets, toys, and even people they find comfort in. To them, it’s similar to having a pacifier placed in their mouth. It helps them get through the usual stress and loneliness they feel when they are freshly weaned from their mother.
It is also noticed that piglets that were weaned too early have a harder time removing the habit of post-weaning rooting. And sometimes, they end up hurting themselves when they try to burrow into even the hardest surfaces.
This is why it’s recommended that newly-weaned pigs, especially the ones that were weaned too early, should be given blankets or stuffed toys that they can root into while in the process of post-weaning rooting. This helps prevent them from injuring themselves (or somebody else).
- To cool off
Pigs only have a few sweat glands, most of which aren’t functioning well. This means that they don’t sweat, depriving them of the ability to cool off their skin and pull down their body temperature through perspiration.
Through instinct, pigs would look for a mud hole or a pool where they can cool themselves off, especially on hot days. But when it is unable to find one, its next move would be to burrow into cool ground.
This is one behavior that you should actually watch out for, especially if you don’t want your pig leaving holes all over the place. Pigs that are looking for ways to cool off will burrow a hole and will lie in that hole in an effort to cool its body off. Once you notice this behavior, find ways to provide a pool or a mud hole where it can cool off instead. A kiddie pool is more than enough to serve this purpose.
- To communicate
Although we’re in the topic of burrowing here, remember that this movement is very similar to rooting or nudging. And you’ll notice that your pig may, at times, go to you and start trying to nudge your leg as if it’s trying to burrow into it.
This is definitely not your pig being aggressive. When pigs do this to their owners, it’s because they need or want something. This is especially common if it knows it’s dinner time and it’s time for you to prepare its meal.
There may be times when they become too pushy and could leave bruises on your leg. This is something you can control by sternly saying no. Don’t shout, don’t raise your voice. Just do it in a stern enough voice that will tell your pig it’s not supposed to do that.
It may also start rooting against your hand. Usually, this is your pig telling you that it wants a belly rub or an ear scratching.
If your pig is not spayed or neutered, it may also start to aggressively root against your legs. This is another reason why pigs should be spayed or neutered as early as possible. Aside from the mess they leave behind when they are in heat, their rooting habits become aggressive enough to hurt someone.
If you need more information about spaying, neutering, and other things you should expect when your pig is in heat, read this article.
Should I Stop My Pig from Burrowing?
It’s only natural to wonder whether you can stop this habit, especially if you’ve put in a lot of hard work into making your yard look beautiful.
The holes that your pig will leave all over the place could also end up as safety hazards. Someone might trip over a small hole, or if it’s a bigger hole, somebody may take a misstep and twist their ankle.
Of course, rooting is a natural behavior. It’s an instinct and is something that pigs are wired to do. You may take measures to regulate or control it, but you also have to know the repercussions.
Pigs that are prevented from rooting will become frustrated, and could eventually show unwanted behavioral issues. It could start being stressed all the time, and eventually, it will start to get aggressive as it tries to find an outlet for its natural instincts.
You may find it being destructive as well. Pigs have the ability to destroy not only carpets, but walls and flooring as well.
Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that you can’t control the behavior in a healthy manner.
Provide a rooting box for your pig so that it can still entertain their natural instinct without becoming aggressive. You can provide an old box, or even a kiddie pool, for this purpose. Just fill it up with pillows, blankets, stuffed toys, crumpled paper, and other materials that your pig can root through.
This allows your pig to stay busy and have an outlet for its natural tendencies without having to worry about your pig destroying your home.
Other Natural Behaviors to Expect from Pigs
Burrowing or rooting is a basic natural instincts that you’ll observe from your pigs, but it’s not the only one. It’s important to understand your pig’s natural behaviors as a whole to help you adjust and understand its needs better.
Pigs use sound to communicate not only with other pigs, but with the humans and other animals around it as well. Normally, pigs let out a shrill, high-pitched sound when they are threatened, scared, or agitated. Lower-pitched sounds are usually associated with comfort or satisfaction.
But it’s not that simple. Pigs have the ability to make around 20 different noises, with different pitches and frequencies. These may range from grunting to screeching.
If you want to find out more about how pigs communicate through sound, this article can help.
Pigs also communicate through body language. This is one of the best ways to understand the sounds they make, as there is usually a corresponding action that goes with it to tell you how it’s feeling.
They are also able to communicate through smell, although this is a language that humans may not be able to understand. Pigs have a complex sense of smell, and they can decipher different messages through the smells other pigs emit even if we do not understand the small differences.
Pigs are also very social creatures, so it’s normal for them to become stressed or depressed when they become lonely or bored. Make sure you set aside some playtime with them to make sure they are kept busy.
If you need ideas on activities that would keep your pig entertained, this article can be helpful.
Related Questions
How long do pigs live?
Pigs can live up to 20 to 25 years old, especially if it grows in a healthy environment where all its needs are met. A pig’s life expectancy may change, however, based on its exposure to different risks. A pig out in the wild, for example, would only have a life expectancy of 5 to 8 years compared to a domesticated pig being treated as a part of its owner’s family.
What do pigs eat?
Pigs usually eat pellets that contain its basic nutritional needs. There may also be times when a pig needs more of a specific nutrient, in which case the vet would recommend adding supplements. For those who would rather make their own pig’s meal, it is usually a mix of processed grains, vegetables and fruits.