Behavior of Wild Pigs toward Conspecific Carcasses: Implications for Disease Transmission in a Hot, Semiarid Climate
Table 2
Ethograms were used to quantify the behavior of live wild pigs towards their dead conspecifics after 3 aerial wild pig gunning events held in November, 2020, May, 2021, and November, 2021, at the East Foundation’s San Antonio Viejo Ranch, South Texas.
Behavior
Definition
Antagonistic
Applicable when more than one wild pig is present; includes both submissive and aggressive behaviors, including chasing, fleeing from, or biting a conspecific
Consumed
Wild pig is observed with open muzzle touching carcass, or touching viscera/bones/flesh/etc., around the carcass, or with viscera/bones/flesh/etc., in the mouth
Investigated
Wild pig is observed with muzzle lowered to carcass or viscera/bones/flesh/etc., with mouth closed
Observed
Wild pigs are observed standing or moving with their heads directed towards the carcass
