Wow, 8fishermen, your post made me curious so I googled "pigs and snakes." Apparently pigs are widely considered great rattlesnake killers.
From one of the articles that I read, the question was how should someone deal with rattlesnake problems:
Have you ever considered hogs? If you have enough property to support a couple of pigs, you just may have found an answer; pigs are natural enemies of snakes, rattlesnakes in particular. Not only will they typically kill them but seem to really enjoy eating snakes as if they were a gourmet specialty.
Wild pigs as well as your large farm type pigs are well known for killing and eating rattlesnakes and are worthy of consideration of being a solution to a problem. Pot bellied pigs just would not do as they are not nearly as aggressive, as well as lacking in size to be of any good. Small young pigs may be in danger as well yet as a pig gains in size becomes an outmatched adversary for any snake.
There are some instances where the pig may die, more likely with some of the more venomous snakes such as adders, perhaps even by really large Diamond Back Rattlers. Many times it is the Pig that will come out triumphant, and in many cases, an excellent solution.
There seems to be a bit of confusion as to why this is the case as they certainly are not immune to venom. Some people even believe this is because they have heard pigs do not have veins to carry the venom but this simply is a myth. All mammals have veins; however there is a lack of access to superficial veins on pigs. The veins being protected by a large layer of fat under their skin, so therefore perhaps a snakes fangs just does not typically hit or reach a vein most of the time.
This city boy is learning new stuff all the time.
