eating roots

Question
My pot belly pig has a very large yard to root in but, she seems to love to dig in the two places that my husband does not want her to dig. I am sure she is doing this because there is fresh dirt there but, she is eating the roots from my palm trees and they are sure to die if she continues. Is there anything other than a fence I can put in these two spots that will stop her from rooting there? They are not large spots at all so a fence will just be silly but if there is a soil or sand that will deter her from that spot I will try that. any suggestions?

Answer
Your pig is doing what pigs naturally do, that is, digging around in the dirt for tasty roots and and bugs.

Pigs are creatures of habit and can be quite "pig headed", but it is possible to retrain your pig. You will have to block off the palm trees to discourage her, until she's learned to root elsewhere.

Set up a special "rooting area" for her. You mentioned fresh dirt near the palm trees. Pigs love fresh dirt and potting soils. The odor of some plant foods and fresh mulch also attract them. So start by dumping a few bags of fresh potting soil, top soil and/or mulch in the spot where you'd like her to root. Make it even more tempting by sprinkling treats into and around the rooting area. Air popped corn, Cheerios, grapes or thin slices of carrot are all good choices. Pigs love the smell of vanilla, so it can't hurt to sprinkle some vanilla extract over the designated rooting area. The idea is to make the rooting area so irresistible she's no longer interested in the trees.

Ordinary plastic deer or bird netting will protect the trees. I am assuming these trees are new because you mentioned fresh dirt. So you'll need to protect all the disturbed soil around the base of the tree. Cut the net into a circle larger than the planting hole, larger than the area she's rooting up. Cut a large X in the center of the circle. Put the circle over the palm tree, pushing the tree through the X. Parts of the cut netting should rest against the trunk. Secure the outer edge of the circle with heavy rocks or bricks, two layers deep if possible.

For stronger protection, use wire mesh, over or under the plastic netting. Cut the mesh as for the netting. Then, cut some of the wires that form the squares and bend the sharp cut edges upwards, like little spikes. Cut enough wires so there's little room for her snouty to squeeze between the spikes, but not so many that the mesh falls apart. Or, run a strand of barbed wire in a spiral, starting at the base of the tree and working outwards to the brick edging.

Finally, when you're outside with her, keep an eye on her and keep a squirt bottle with cold water handy. If she starts going at the trees, tell her NO and give her a few squirts. Normally, I don't recommend squirting pigs, because you'll need to have the squirt bottle always handy. And, pigs are pretty darn smart, they know when you have the bottle, they get squirted. When you don't have the bottle, they don't get squirted! But, between protecting the trees, providing her with a tempting area of her own, and an occasional squirt when she does try for the trees, she should learn to leave the trees alone.