Try different conditions, usually when something does not do X in captivity, its because they do not recognize something, the way you the keeper does.

If the soil in your cage is not suitable, they simply will not use it. It could be too dry, too wet, too dirty, stagnant, etc.

Reptiles in nature, know what works and what does not, They do not attempt to dig in what is not suitable, they do dig in what is suitable, etc. All species I have worked with have a preference to what soil types, what rock types(feel) what wood types, that they seek. There is no question that they seek what is "comfortable" to them. As in, feels right.

Just for fun, how about looking up hognose in any field guide and reading about its habitat and preferred soil type. Most field guides do include that information. And yes, as mentioned, there are always exceptions to a degree. Species adaptions are a product of the whole, not every little peripheral habitat.

It would be great if you could include pics of your hogs and their soil types, both in captivity and in the field. Particularly in the field. Heck, one my brother in law, and I observed a Banded rock rattlesnake, at the very top of an oak tree. He said, FR, do snakes climb, I said yes, but its not normal around here, why? he said, because I think I see a snake in the top of that tree, across the canyon. I looked and said where, he pointed, then I saw the dang snake, it fell out of the top of that dang tree. We ran over and sure enough, an adult male rock rattlesnake. Cheers

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