While some people wonder whether wild hogs eat snakes, Dr. Jim Cathey, a Certified Wildlife Biologist, says that the connection is not verified. Rattlesnakes are highly venomous and very difficult for a pig to penetrate. However, they do have a purpose in nature. Snakes often eat mice and other small animals.
Contents
Rattlesnakes are highly venomous
In areas where rattlesnakes are common, feral hogs will hunt them down and eat them. Despite their venom, wild hogs have been known to kill and eat rattlesnakes, and this behavior has been well documented. Although rattlesnakes are very venomous and dangerous, they do not attack humans, so they can be safely avoided. However, you must still stay vigilant when you are outdoors and always be aware of the snakes.
Wild hogs are considered a good natural predator for snakes because of their omnivorous diet. Moreover, they are highly resistant to snake venom, which means that if you accidentally get bitten by a snake, you won’t die. Besides pigs, birds, and other wild animals are also known to eat snakes.
Pigs are omnivorous
Pigs are omnivorous animals, meaning they eat a variety of foods. They also enjoy foraging for food in the soil. They have a good sense of smell and can locate food several feet underground. Their long snouts help them search for their favorite foods.
They are mammals that belong to the order Artiodactyla. Their close relatives include hippopotamuses and peccaries. Domestic pigs have been domesticated for over 5000 years. Today, the domestic pig is found almost anywhere. Depending on their size, they can weigh as much as 660 pounds.
Most species of pigs live in family groups. Females tend to lead the family and the males tend to live alone except during mating season. They have large broods that can range up to a dozen piglets. Although young pigs are vulnerable to predators, mature pigs are difficult to kill.
They kill snakes out of instinct
While the association between wild hogs and rattlesnakes has not been proven, it seems that pigs may kill snakes out of instinct. In fact, some researchers believe that pigs may be immune to the venom of snakes, and they suffer less adverse effects when bitten by snakes. Despite the association between wild hogs and snakes, it is important to remember that snakes are part of nature’s ecosystem, and they have a job to do. They often feed on small animals, like mice.
Because pigs have thick hides, a snake’s bite is not likely to penetrate their skin. Therefore, the pig will continue to bite the snake until it stops moving. The snake will then be dead.
They are tough to penetrate
Wild hogs are opportunistic omnivores that can eat almost anything, including snakes. They also have been found to feed on eggs, armadillos, and carrion. However, most of them are known to feed on plant matter. Some of them have even been observed to eat eggs from birds and other animals, including turkeys and sea turtles.
In frontier days, farmers would let hogs run loose and collect them with their dogs on butchering day. Later, wealthy Americans imported Eurasian wild boars to hunting preserves, where they crossed with feral hogs. Today, feral hogs are widespread and considered a non-native species. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and several islands.
They are a delight to hunt
If you’ve ever wondered why pigs are so darn happy to hunt and eat snakes, you may be interested to know that some snakes are a delight to eat, too. But don’t let the fact that pigs hunt snakes put you off – snakes have a purpose in nature, and they’re also very good at stealth and coloration.
The simplest way to hunt a hog is to use a matchlock. You hide behind brambles in a bush or clearing, and then attach the trigger to a rope. When the boar approaches, you have to make sure that it doesn’t spot you. You’ll want to wait until the hog stumbles over the trunk of the tree, and then you can fire a ball into its neck and shoulder.
