Have a Javelina Encounter? Here’s What To Do

I think Arizona got was given more than its fair share of strange and exotic animals.

One of the strangest creatures you might encounter in Arizona is also one of the oddest: the collard peccary, also known as the javelina (pronounced hävəˈlēnə) or the skunk pig.

According to Wikipedia.org, Javelina resemble medium-sized wild pigs, but they're in the family Tayassuidae (New World Pigs), which is different from domesticated pigs, which are Sus domesticus.

These smelly, prickly creatures live all over the southwestern United States and can also be found as far south as Argentina and the Caribbean.

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A Squadron of Javelina

Since peccaries are social creatures, if you spot one, keep your eyes peeled; the rest of the herd or squadron won't be far behind. These multigenerational groups can have as many as 100 individuals! In the desert southwest, they usually run around in groups of around 7 to 13.

The Javelina Diet

Javelina are omnivores, so they occasionally eat roots, grubs, and small animals. Their preferred foods are roots, grasses, seeds, fruit, and even cacti, with a proclivity for prickly pear.

These creatures are pushy and assertive and have been known to break through gates and fences to destroy gardens and drip irrigation systems.

Humans and Pets Should Stay Away

TheDailyWildlife.com says Javelina have poor eyesight, but a strong sense of smell.

Javelina are especially frightened of dogs, and there have been many reports of dogs attacked and injured as a result of a tangle with one more Javelina. If you're walking your dog and spot a javelina, quickly move out of the way and head in a different direction.

According to ABC News15 article, a group of Javelina ran up a wash and attacked a woman's dog in Phoenix. Two men intervened and the dog was saved, but what do you do if you cross paths with a javelina - or worse, an entire squadron of these peccaries?

Javelina will bite to defend themselves. If a human or domestic animal is bitten, the bite may be painful and dangerous, so treatment should be sought immediately.

TheDailyWildlife.com reports, "Javelinas pose another huge danger to humans because they might be infected with rabies, distemper, or salmonella. Getting in contact with infected javelina can pose a serious health concern. These viruses spread to people from the saliva of infected animals and can result in death."

Secure Your Property

Javelina aren't typically looking to pick a fight, but they can be a nuisance. They often seek out easy sources of food, like wildlife feeders, trash, outdoor pet food, fruit trees, or certain flowering plants. These can attract javelina and become an easy-access human-provided buffet.

Javelina love to invade gardens. They're a ready-made source of nutrition, and if they get into your lettuce beds and tomato plants, they can decimate your harvest. The best way to protect your garden is to keep food and water sources away from wildlife and put up a good, strong, peccary-proof gate. Use strong wire or electric fencing to keep them out.

Scare Them Away

If you encounter a javelina, try to scare it away by making loud noises, banging on things, yelling, clapping your hand, or throwing rocks at them. If you have access, try spraying them with a garden hose. In most cases, they'll run away on their own.

Living in the desert southwest is like nowhere else on earth. With information and planning, humans can live in peace with our unique desert fauna.