Friday, March 13, 2009

Javalina in the back wash.....can you see the baby?



Javalina in the back wash, just over the fence. Usually a common sight, but not so much this year, or maybe, we just haven't seen them. Could be the coyotes have grown in number and scare them off as we certainly hear the coyotes loud and clear every night. Poor rabbits.........

Though some people think javelinas are a type of wild pig, they are actually members of the peccary family, a group of hoofed mammals originating from South America. Javelinas are common in much of central and southern Arizona, including the outskirts of the Phoenix area, most of Tucson, and occasionally as far north as Flagstaff. Javelinas form herds of two to more than 20 animals and rely on each other to defend territory, protect against predators, regulate temperature and interact socially. They use washes and areas with dense vegetation as travel corridors. Javelinas are most active at night, but may be active during the day when it's cold.

2 comments:

TerriD said...

I never even heard of a Javalina before. Though I am stuck on the hearing coyote thing??? How close are they? I heard once about a year or two ago that mountain lions were coming out at night in the West to steal food as they were hungry. Is that true?? I almost left Long Island when I saw bats and the hinny of a posum! And I LOVE my bunnies!!!

Ada May & Donald Roberts @ Amelia Payson House B&B said...

Mountain lions are around from time to time, that's why you don't leave small kids and pets out in the yard unattended. Lunch.......