Meet the Javelina, a Rare Tusked Boar-Like Creature That Even Cougars Are Wary Of

Imagine a brutally tough, very hairy creature with sharp tusks that could scare even a cougar. It’s a social animal that travels single-file through thick desert brush in groups called squadrons. If you spot one, you might wonder if it’s a giant rodent, a wild pig, or something else entirely. While it may sound like some mythical cryptid, it’s actually just a javelina — a unique animal that sure knows how to make its presence felt. As this YouTube video shows, javelinas are in a category all their own!

What Is a Javelina?

You may look at a javelina and think it’s a hairy pig, a wild boar, or maybe one of those feral razorback hogs running around the United States. But surprisingly, javelinas aren’t pigs at all! They actually branched off from the pig family nearly 40 million years ago.

A javelina is a peccary — specifically, the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu). Peccaries are native to the Americas and the Western Hemisphere, while true pigs originally come from the Old World (Asia, Europe, and Africa). Collared peccaries, or javelinas, are usually about 3 feet long and weigh between 40 and 60 pounds. They have coarse, greyish-brown hair that looks a bit like salt and pepper, with pig-like snouts and small eyes. Unlike true pigs, javelinas have small, rounded ears, tiny tails, and short, straight tusks.

The name “collared peccary” comes from the band of light-colored fur around their necks, which looks like a collar. This collar becomes especially noticeable when a javelina feels threatened because the hair on the back of its neck and shoulders stands up.

Where Are Javelinas Found?

Javelinas are actually native to the southwestern United States, specifically Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Their range also extends south through Mexico and into Argentina. They prefer habitats like grasslands, oak woodlands, and desert washes. They can also be found in forests with saguaro cacti and palo verde trees.

Javelinas live in close family groups, usually with two to 20 individuals. They don’t have great eyesight and mostly depend on their superb sense of smell. Not only do javelinas have a keen sense of smell, but they also emit a rather strong scent themselves. If you’ve ever been near a javelina, you’ve likely caught a whiff of this distinct, musky odor. Javelinas rub their scent glands on each other to help them recognize their group and stay together. Every member of the herd keeps an eye out for danger and will warn the others with unique “woofing” sounds.

Are Javelinas Aggressive?

Generally, javelinas aren’t aggressive toward people unless they feel threatened. But because their eyesight isn’t very good, they are easily startled. Javelinas are also very protective of their families, especially their young, and they can have babies at any time of the year. If they feel threatened or startled, they can become very defensive and may growl, bark, snap their teeth together, or even charge. However, sometimes what looks like a javelina charging is just the herd scattering and running away in different directions, which is one of their defensive strategies.

While they usually avoid humans, javelinas can be very defensive and aggressive toward dogs, since canines are their natural predators. Dogs and javelinas can seriously injure one another, and if a dog is with a human, it can make things even more challenging. Although javelinas have bitten people on rare occasions, almost every case involved the person bothering the animal or trying to feed it.

Javelinas are hunted by larger animals like coyotes and mountain lions. However, as you can see in this YouTube video, they certainly are not defenseless. They will fiercely protect their family groups with their natural strength and use their strong tusks to fight off predators.

What to Do if You Encounter a Javelina

Javelinas typically live in wild areas, but you can often find them near people in some urban areas. According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, for example, it’s common to see javelinas in Tucson, AZ, even when you’re just taking a stroll around the neighborhood.

Javelinas aren’t generally aggressive toward humans, but it’s important to remember that they can be dangerous, especially if you’re walking a dog. Dogs are natural predators of javelinas, and javelinas can become very defensive if they smell or hear a dog nearby.

What should you do if you encounter a javelina? Because they don’t have great eyesight, they might mistakenly charge at a person instead of a dog. So, make loud noises like yelling or clapping your hands to scare them away. Also, be sure they have a clear escape route so they don’t feel trapped. Furthermore, never feed any wild animals, especially javelinas, as they can become used to people and cause problems later on.