Early mating behaviour

[5sandown]

Hello everybody
Things are getting very busy in the garden and neighbourhood. One of the great things we’ve done in the crisis is to set up a neighbours WhatsApp group and I’ve been using it to get a better picture of activity in our street. Lots of food and water going and several sightings. Yesterday a hog moved into one of my houses and last night a second hog appeared and there was a lot of mating behaviour which I captured on camera for the first time and loaded to the gallery. Fingers crossed we could be in for exciting times!

[Nic]

Hi 5sandown

Sounds promising! But bear in mind that often the courtship circling doesn’t lead to mating, particularly if there are last year hoglet females around. Some mature females (who may have hibernated late because they had hoglets) may not even be back from hibernation yet. So, often the hogs around, at this time of year, are males and younger females. Usually last year’s hoglets are not old enough yet, but that doesn’t put the males off practising their courtship techniques! Sometimes a male will attempt to mount a female, but mating is not going to take place unless the female co-operates. Sometimes one or other of the hogs involved will just wander off, even after hours of circling (and even with two mature hogs) – it’s a wonder they ever have time to produce hoglets at all!

Bear in mind that normally peak hoglet birth times are June and July, with gestation being about 4.5 weeks. Although with hogs exceptions can never be ruled out!

[5sandown]

Thanks Nic, yes promising but no guarantees. The female is still resident in the hog house and there are two larger hogs around as well. So lots of interactions and, maybe, practice mounting!

[Author]

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