Of all the pests that can attack a garden, a less common one is pigs. In some states, escaped domestic pigs have gone feral and are running wild. Another scenario may simply be a neighbor’s pig or several pigs deciding their landscape looks infinitely tastier than yours, causing root damage from pigs in your garden.
If you’ve ever had to handle pigs in the yard, you know it’s no joke and you may be wondering how to keep pigs out of the yard
Problems in the pig garden
Pigs are very intelligent but what really motivates them is food. They spend a good part of the day eating or looking for things to eat. This is where your garden comes into play. Imagine being pigs in a pen. With meals a day and plenty of water, you can see and smell a cornucopia of edible delights beyond the fence in your garden.
Pigs eat leaves, trample plants and tear out roots while damaging trees as they rub against them in their frantic search for a tasty morsel. Pig root damage can become so severe that entire areas are left bare and unrecognizable. The smartest pig can’t read a “no pigs allowed” sign, how are pigs kept out of the garden and is there any way to repel them?
How to keep pigs out of the garden
A fence is an obvious solution, although the intelligent animal can sometimes dig under or even push over a fence. An electric fence is a better option for keeping pigs out of garden areas. A small electric shock will not hurt the pigs but it will train them fairly quickly to avoid the area. If electrifying the fence is a bit extreme, installing a plastic mesh fence around the garden can help deter pigs. They don’t want to go through something they can get tangled in.
Of course, if you’re home when the piggies come into the yard, loud noises may scare them away, at least temporarily. What happens if you’re not around? Install a motion detector that emits a stream of water. This may scare the pigs and teach them to avoid your garden, or being the smart animals they are, the animals may realize that they will get a refreshing bath. Motion-activated devices are, at best, a temporary deterrent.
Other Ways to Remove Pig Rooting Damage
Humans in the garden tend to deter pigs sometimes. Try putting a scarecrow , mannequin or something similar in the garden. Move the scarecrow every few days so the pigs don’t get used to it and think there is a real person in the yard.
Pigs have a great sense of smell and are attracted to fruits and vegetables you are growing, especially overripe ones. To deter pigs, clean up any fallen or overripe fruits or vegetables. Avoid growing crops that pigs enjoy, such as strawberries and other sweet fruits. Also, keep Fido’s food in the house. Pet food left out attracts the attention of pigs and other opportunistic creatures.
Last resort to get pigs out of the garden
If all else fails, it might be time to capture the pig. There are some agencies that can help you with this endeavor and let’s just say you will need help. You may decide to bait a trap like a dog cage or try to convince the pig to get into a container with the help of food and patience. Patience will be needed.
The pigs in the garden are not going to give up their little Eden without protest. Take it easy and offer plenty of food, the way to any good pig’s heart.