The Collared Peccary - a.k.a. Javelina

Prickly pear cactus

This shows an area of a prickly pear cactus that a Javelina has eaten. These cactus grow in abundance in the Tucson area, and Javelina get good nourishment, and lots of necessary moisture when they eat them.

One of the primary reasons, if not the primary reason, for this peculiar animal's continued success living in harsh environs is its truly omnivorous dietary habits. Its need for water is largely satisfied by its ability to so freely dine on cactus, but that's not the only rough and tumble fare on this critter's diet. It will also eat the toughest mesquite fruit, and the woody, spiny-leaved agave. And as you might imagine, digging down to the moister, more succulent roots of a desert shrub is no simple feat. In July, the ground in parts of the Sonora desert can be as tough as concrete. But the tenacious pig is undaunted, and using his snout and hooves he always gets his root. It will also eat almost any small animal that it happens across, such as lizards, worms, and insects. The Javelina is a true, opportunistic omnivore.

Jaguar

Far to the south of the Sonora deserts around Tucson, in the Americas, the Jaguar is a primary consumer of Javelina. The Jaguar is an exceptionally gifted predator, which will invariably get any Javelina it decides would make a good meal.

Residents of Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley and the surrounding areas sometimes have a problem with Javelina. These problems, almost without exception, are confined to those who own homes that do not have solid walls around the yard. Javelina destruction is most often in the form of either destroyed plants or damaged underground water lines. These are tough, persistent animals, and the problems they sometimes cause can become quite the nuisance. If you're having one of these problems, the first action to consider is a traditional type of fencing. Unfortunately, this frequently fails to resolve the problem because the animals will either tear the fencing down, or root under it. If you have to protect plants, look into a solar fence charger and some stout electric fencing wire. Electric fence is less costly to install than many other types of fencing, and is also much easier to put up. Electric fence is also easy to direct around and through plants, rocks, and so forth.

Put electric fencing up – with the lowest strand being at about six inches, and the highest being at about fourteen inches. Follow all safety instructions provided with the charger. If the pigs are rooting through your garden or rooting up your watering system lines and ripping them open, a different course is available to you. First, make any necessary repairs to the water lines and re-bury them. Now, purchase a roll of galvanized twisted wire and some landscaping spikes. The wire's diameter should be something around 1/8" or slightly smaller. This type of wire is usually used to anchor shrubs and small trees. Wrap the wire securely around the top of one landscaping spike and then, using an appropriate hammer, drive it fully into the ground about three inches to either side of the buried water line. Now, stretch the wire to the other end of the water line, leave an extra foot and cut it. Drive the spike into the ground, leaving about three inches of it exposed above ground. This will keep the spike secure, and give you a firm anchor to tie to.

Now, pull the wire tight, and then wrap it around the top of the spike. Now, drive the spike down fully. Now, drive both spikes a bit further underground – so that the tops of the spikes are not visible and so that the wire, which is running along the top of the ground parallel to the water line, is very tight. Repeat this process on the other side of the water line. Click here for a diagram. Now, when the pigs try to root, their noses will hit that wire, and they will quickly quit. Over a few weeks – especially if it is raining or being watered, the wires will become invisible. If they don't, stretch them slightly tighter.

The Collared Peccary is a truly unique member of the diverse animal community of the southwestern desert. It is pig-like, not very attractive, rather small, and really has no traits or abilities that endear it to humans. It does not enjoy the popularity of intriguing, desert-dwelling animals like the roadrunner or the coyote – and it doesn't get the attention of dangerous animals such as the Gila Monster, the mountain lion, and the rattlesnakes. Still, it should not be overlooked when reviewing the amazing animals that successfully survive, and cohabitate, in the harsh, arid deserts around Tucson. They are an admirably succesful species that is important to the ecosystem of the desert, and they should be respected as such.

<< Previous Page :: :: ::

<< Return to Animal Articles

Collared Peccary Tayassu tajacu

Collared Peccary
Tayassu tajacu