Of interest, hogs seem to be a bit different. They are bold, fearless and appear to be(so far) not effected by the simple picking them up.

It appears that "playing dead" actually Psycho barfing, crapping musking defensive behavior is based on being touched or picked up. (a contact behavior) So if put back down, they seem to carry on as normal. Which makes hogs a dream animal to study. Maybe real physical injury would work. Naw!!!

Related and of interest, such species I have worked with like Green ratsnakes and Rosy boas, tend to acquire lots and lots of scaring as they age. From minor, to how the heck did you survive.

Other species like rattlesnakes, do not tend to have lot of scaring even old individuals.

Hognose seem to fit the later, so far, only one individual was scared, or was going to scare. It was a male with two fresh dime size holes mid body and still bleeding. Sample size 100 plus.

Whatever that defense is, it works well. Thanks

p.s. I am apparently under the false impression that if I find snakes crossing the road, If I pick them up and mess with them, they will avoid crossing roads, so far, that's not working

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