It may have only been the third little pig to outsmart the wolf in the fairy tale, but in real life, pigs would have no trouble outsmarting the big bad wolf.
In the current issue of "Animal Behavior," scientists discuss the latest evidence showing that domestic pigs can learn how mirrors work and use them to locate food.
The ability to use mirrors and pass the "mirror self-recognition test," in which few species, including apes and dolphins, can recognize themselves in the mirror, are signs of intelligence.
So just how smart are pigs?
"Pigs are actually pretty smart," said Anna Mosley, senior in animal sciences. "They remember faces. They can be house trained and taught most of the same tricks as dogs. I also know that pigs are completely capable of figuring out how to open their crates if not properly closed."
However, pigs can be categorized, not only into breeds, but into domestic or tame pigs and wild pigs.
"Tame pigs are not so intelligent because it has somewhat been bred out of them," said Andrew Sparks, senior in agricultural business and economics. "But wild pigs are very intelligent and can find good and defend themselves."
Frank Owlsey, professor in animal sciences, said it is difficult to judge intelligence in animals.
"Extreme intelligence is based on the ability to survive, and pigs are about as good as surviving as an animal could be," Owlsey said. "You can take a domestic pig, put it in the wild and within three generations they will have reverted back to wild pigs."
Another sign of intelligence can be based on social behavior or how pigs interact with other pigs.
"They are interesting animals to watch," Owlsey said. "If you get a group of 25 pigs, they will rank themselves one to 25. If you get a group of 400 pigs, they will divide themselves into subgroups and create a pecking order within those groups."
Owlsey said this group order is another aspect of survival because it creates stability.
When a new pig is introduced to a group it will be treated harshly as part of this social behavior oriented toward groups.
Another sign of intelligence is how easily an animal can be trained.
"They are quick to learn," Owlsey said. "We trained pigs to eat when a bell was rung and, within two tries, they knew the bell equaled food. They can also be trained to ring a bell or push a button to indicate they want to be let outside."
However, Owlsey said he thinks it is incorrect to bestow humanlike characteristics such as logic or reasoning to this intelligence and that people should realize pig intelligence is not the same as human intelligence.
Pigs also do not necessarily make good pets, simply because they are intelligent, Owlsey said.
"While a newborn pig is just as cute as a puppy and can be trained from that age to be docile, I don't know that they would grow up to be the most suitable pet," Mosley said. "At 6 months of age, a pig can easily weigh over 200 pounds, and by a year of age they can reach up to 400 pounds. Also, pigs can eat over five pounds of food per day depending on age."
Mosley said she thinks the pigs' weight, food expenses and odor would not make them great pets for a student.
Both Owsley and Sparks said people should be educated about pigs if they would like to have one as a pet.
"It's not a dog," Owsley said. "It's not a cat. It's a pig."
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