They shelter in tall grass or reedbeds and in burrows that are either self-excavated or abandoned by other animals. Pigs are surefooted and rapid runners and good swimmers, and they are fond of mud baths. When cornered or wounded, they frequently fight courageously. In such battles their tusks are deadly weapons. They are active mainly at night, especially in areas where they are molested by people.
Some forms use their snout, and a few use their tusks, to dig for food.
The omnivorous diet includes fungi, leaves, roots, bulbs, tubers, fruit, snails, earthworms, reptiles, young birds, eggs, small rodents, and carrion. Contrary to popular belief, a wild pig rarely will overeat. The Johns Hopkins University Press. All rights reserved. This document may be used, with this notice included, for noncommercial purposes within a purchasing institution .