The piglet was stuck under a fallen tree branch squealing to be released. Bucky, our 700-pound boar, was doing his best to lift the branch off the unhappy piglet but, with only his snout to work with, was not having success.
For the past month, Bucky has been the leader of a bunch of 10-week-old piglets who adore him. This is unusual because, at best, boars ignore piglets and, at worst, they kill and sometimes eat them. However, Bucky is a gentle boar who takes a real interest in these 14 piglets who are his offspring.
We had weaned the 14 piglets several weeks earlier and kept them separate from the bigger pigs. That worked until one day, I forgot to latch the piglet’s pen door. All 14 piglets, about 15 pounds each, escaped through the open door. I found them hanging out with Bucky, their dad. Not only were all the piglets alive, but Bucky seemed to like their crazy antics and their frequent nuzzle snuzzles. I could see he wasn’t going to kill them and since they seemed to like his company, I let them stay together during the day.
Even though I let the piglets out during the day to socialize with Bucky and four older pigs, I make sure they are secure in their pen at night. Until a piglet is 30 pounds or so, they are vulnerable to predator attacks. Coyotes and even owls would love a piglet meal, but once the piglets are 30 pounds they seem to be safe from predator attacks.
I don’t know how long Bucky had been working to free the piglet under the fallen tree branch but once Bruce, my husband, freed the piglet, Bucky walked away happy for the help. For now, the piglets have an ever watchful dad to keep them in line and to try to save them from fallen branches. They may not know how lucky they are but these little piglets have a guardian boar to watch over them.
(Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm in Loudon.)