MARLIN375 wrote: Quote:
|
Tell me Flint. What do hogs do during the day,
|
Depends upon the time of year (temperature). But, in the summer months hogs tend to seek shady, cool (relatively), secluded places...not far from a water source.
In these areas, they will "lounge" most of the day, sometimes ranging small distances to forage or visit a water source for relief, but for the most part they are just trying to stay cool and conserve energy. Hogs have no sweat glands....and can only regulate their body temperature by means of limiting their movement...or by immersing themselves in water or mud.
In the cooler months (Fall, Winter, Spring) hogs will travel great distances in search of food, water and safe bedding areas. They will seek sheltered areas out of the wind and elements when the weather is inclement. Also, increased travel and more frequent feeding cycles (about every 3-4 hrs) helps to keep them warm.
So, there are stark differences in daytime habits where temperature extremes exist.
Quote:
|
they seem to be mostly nocturnal or is that just the older educated ones?
|
No, hogs (like deer and many other animals) are "crepusular", meaning: They tend to be most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, but will forage all day in cool weather.
The only other reasons for them to take on a nocturnal pattern would be owing to hunting pressure or in reaction to the daytime temperatures.
In the cool months we see them all times of the day and night. In the summer months their movement is almost exclusively at night...and the hotter it gets...the later they wait to forage and will restrict travel as much as possible, (or as the availability of water dictates).
The subject of "older educated" animals is a valid point, some hogs (particularly older, solitary, boars) will develop patterns of feed/travel that are entirely nocturnal.
Even in states that allow hunting them at night (Texas is one), the hunting pressure is greatly reduced at night, as well as other farm activities that might prove disturbing.
A hog does NOT have to be "older" however, only "educated".
This is where the well deserved statement "Hogs are smart" comes into play.
Even young hogs "learn" quickly. I can think of no other animal (excepting crows) more capable of making "associations" as quickly as hogs. While I do not believe hogs are capable of abstract thought or reasoning, they WILL make the "association" between a bad experience/event and "danger"
the very first time!
Hogs also enjoy an excellent "memory" and put it to full use everyday. If hogs were predatory animals....we'd all be in a world of hurt.