Arizona Javelina

AZ Leisure ^ | Staff Writers

[SunkenCiv]

Though some people may call them "cute", Javelinas are arguably rather ugly animals and possess a rather unpleasant odor which is why some people refer to them as "musk hogs". They aren't wild pigs but are actually members of the "peccary" family that originated in South America. They have become accustomed to being in close proximity to humans and will generally ignore people. If you try and approach them. they will simply leave the area, but if provoked and threatened they've been known to defend themselves with their long, sharp tusks.

The colorization of the Javelina is peppered black, gray and brown hair with a faint white collar around the shoulders. When full grown they weigh between 35 to 60 pounds with males being slightly larger than females. Javelina become sexually mature at about 10 months of age and are capable of breeding at anytime of the year and can have two litters with a year. Newborn Javelina weigh about one pound and attain colorization at three months...

Their average live span in the wild is about 7.5 years although they've been known to live as long as 25 years in captivity. Javelina roam in herds of to 20 to protect themselves from predators that include mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes.

Javelina are most active at night and exist on a diet of flowers, berries, prickly pear cactus and plant life. Thet have a keen sense of smell but have very poor eyesight. Their odor comes from a scent gland on their backs and other members of the herd will rub each others scent gland to identify Javelina from different herds.

[null and void]

Sounds like my little (130 lbs) knucklehead.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Bastards like to knock over my garbage can (NE Valley) and make a huge mess. Egg shells and fish bones attract them - have to wrap food garbage up pretty well. They usually come around late at night, though I've also seen them in early evening and in daylight beside a nearby creek. Coyotes will grab the little ones when they can - the big ones usually get taken out by cars when they cross at night.

In Sedona, I've seen javelinas walk up along the side of the place we were staying and when I held my hand out over the fence as if offering them food, they immediately and fearlessly came up to me - as if they were used to being hand-fed by locals. Bad idea, since I've seen them roam around in groups of fifteen or more up there.

[Beowulf9]

I never said I never saw a rattlesnake.

[Cheesehead in Texas]

I’ve run into a squadron of javelinas a few times while hiking in Texas State Parks. Notably Choke Canyon State Park and Lake Casa Blanca Internatiknal State Park. The ones in Choke Canyon had several babies with them when I saw them.

[Bonemaker]

Sorry....you mentioned just about everything else though and I didn’t know how you missed that significant creature! I saw a gila monster once in Tucson.

[SunkenCiv]

Cute name for a pretty ugly critter. :^)

[Beowulf9]

I guess those should be included. My sister and her husband bought a big piece of property down in Eloy area. Big piece of land in the desert but millions of rattle snakes. Turned out up a desert road was a snake den. They had to clear it out.

I also forgot I did see a Gila monster when sitting on a very large boulder in a desert piece of land that now is built on but back then it was empty, just off Cave Creek Road and Cactus Road with a mountain on it.

[waterhill]

It’s all in the prep.

[Bonemaker]

We have a place just across River Rd. near Campbell in Tucson (actually in County) at beginning of foothills. Loaded with king snakes. Supposedly they keep the rattlers down.

[SunkenCiv]

Record-Breaking Feral Pigs Hunted in Texas
Wild Encounters
Duration 0:59
2w

“James Bigley Ranches offers unique insight on ranches, Western history, sustainability, and land management. With a wealth of experience in wildlife, firefighting, ranching, and corporate America, James provides expert advice on property buying, selling, and responsible land stewardship. Follow along with James as he shares valuable insights and stories about ranch life and land management!”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/animals/record-breaking-feral-pigs-hunted-in-texas/vi-AA1woBcX?cvid=4704d13122394172a1c723ccf4fa084b&ei=21

[Honorary Serb]

I saw a Gila monster—and its relative the Mexican beaded lizard—in the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Nowhere else!

[the_Watchman]

Sometimes I sing Thumbelina, but replace it with Javelina. 😄

[SunkenCiv]

:^)

[singing] Javelina, hold me tighter...