Javelina
aka “peccary”
These fellows usually travel in small packs of 5-10 but this fellow was by himself. This guy was exploring a friend’s backyard – probably looking for the trash cans – down in Green Valley Arizona south of Tucson.
A pig version of a raccoon in habits, I hear they make good eating but I’ve never tried; never had the desire to try raccoon either.
Did a brave search for Javelina and most of the results are for a trendy restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Didn’t see peccary on the menu though. Pretty sure I won’t be going there.
I have never processed the visual picture as rapidly as I do process sound. Therefore, I am acutely aware of noises in the night which I cannot see nearly as well as I hear! Hate things that go bing in the dark!
My son and I have been on a couple’o hunting trips for javelina. We never saw one, but found plenty of signs that they were in the area. Some refer to javelina as “stink pigs”….they have a scent gland on their back that they rub on themselves and vegetation as a way of saying “We’re all in the same group* and this is where we live”. Javelina are sometimes confused with feral pigs, which are a big problem in many areas of the country (and a growing problem in Arizona).
*I’m sure that you were all wondering, “What do you call a group of javelina?”
A group of javelina is called a “squadron”. Now you know.
My sister had one. 1972 AMC Javelin SST. Black, automatic, big 401 engine.
She loaned it to my next youngest brother and he got dronk and wrapped it around a Royal Palm tree on McGregor Blvd. I drove it once and it was fast.