Not Your Ordinary Pig

November 04, 2009 |

Many of you are all too familiar with feral pigs and their destructive nature.  Javelina (Pecari tajacu), also known as collared peccaries, are cousins to the pig (Sus scrofa).  Javelina are native to this continent, unlike true pigs.  Javelina and pigs both belong to the same Phylogenetic Order (Suiformes), but belong to different Families so they cannot interbreed.  Javelina are native to Texas, New Mexico & Arizona in the U.S.  In Texas, javelina are most commonly associated with the southern and western portions of the state, but are also present in parts of Central Texas.

The presence of prickly pear cactus may play a roll in their distribution in the U.S.  They do well in places where the dominant vegetation type is mixed brush and cactus.  Javelina are classified as omnivores, meaning they’ll eat almost anything, however prickly pear cactus makes up the majority of their diet followed by a variety of forbs (weeds) and fruits. 

How can you tell a javelina from a pig?  Javelinas do not have cork-screw tails, tend to be smaller than the average pig and produce smaller tracks.  They have 4 toes in the front and 3 toes in the back whereas pigs have 4 and 4.  They are mostly dark grey-black in coloration and have a white or light-colored stripe that runs from their back behind the head to underneath their jaws (hence the name collared peccary – it looks like a collar).  Javelina are lighter tan to yellowish-grey at birth and get darker with age.  When startled, the fur on the back stands straight up exposing a scent gland on their back.  The scent gland produces a strong-smelling musk-like substance used to mark their territory and may help keep the herd together.  Javelina often travel in groups called sounders of 10-30 individuals.

Are javelina dangerous?  As with most wild animals, they prefer to avoid confrontation but they will defend themselves if cornered.  When startled they will clatter their teeth together and snort to scare off the offender to avoid confrontation.  Javelina have poor vision, but they do have good hearing and sense of smell, so it’s easy to startle them if they don’t hear you coming and if you approach from downwind.  They are known to exhibit aggression towards dogs, especially when hunted with dogs.  This is most likely the result of having to protect their young from coyotes.  Under normal circumstances they tend to stay in dense stands of brush. 

Are they good or bad to have around?  That’s a personal question. When compared to feral pigs, they aren’t nearly as destructive.  They don’t wallow as much or root as deep.  They only produce an average of 2 young per litter, whereas pigs have an average litter size of 6.  A herd will occasionally muddy up stock tanks, wallowing during hot summer months, and they can spread the growth of prickly pear during feeding activities.  They will take advantage of an open field of watermelons if they come across one, and they do love corn.  However, they probably do more to control prickly pear than we can since it makes up such a large component of their diet.  The privilege of observing another native mammal species on your property as unique as javelina may outweigh the drawbacks. 

We know little about javelina population dynamics in central Texas other than what is reported by the landowners.  In fact, if you look at a field guide for mammals of Texas, you won’t see central Texas anywhere near the distribution zone for javelina.

If you would like to contact your local biologist, see our website at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/wildlifebiologist.