The collared peccary
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009
The collared peccary, better known as the javelina, is one of the larger critters that you might find wandering through your campsite. Don’t yell “wild pig!”, though, since you may give offense. Javelina are a breed apart, in their own family of Tayasuidae, and not the Suidae family of Old World animals to which all other feral and farm pigs in the Americas belong. They are found in the U.S. only in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Peccaries do share the ecological niche and some of the destructive habits of wild pigs, and can become a bit of a nuisance in some parts of Arizona. We’ve even seen a whole herd of them bedded down in someone’s front yard. Javelina are peaceful creatures and simply prefer to be left alone, but they will attack if harassed, and can be dangerous in a large group with youngsters to protect. Remember that their fierce Spanish name refers to the spear-like sharpness of their tusks!
They walk very delicately on their tiny hooves, so you may smell their rich, musky odor before hearing them. They rest through the hottest part of the day and forage at morning and evening. You can find collared peccaries wherever prickly pear proliferate.