Adult javelina generally weigh 35 to 60 lbs, the male being slightly heavier than the female. New born javelina weigh about one pound. They are tan to brownish in color with a reddish dorsal stripe. They acquire adult coloration at three months. The salt and pepper appearance of adults is due to whitish bands on the black hairs. These hairs are up to six inches long, with the mane being blackest, longest, and erectile. In the winter, the coat is very dense and dark and the "collar" is visible. In summer, the javelina sheds hair. The shorter hairs are lighter and the collar frequently is not visible.<br><br>
Javelina are herd animals with herd sizes averaging 8 to 9 animals. Territories are set up using droppings and the dorsal scent gland to mark these areas. Aggressive displays will be made to intruding javelina. Territory size varies with the productivity of the habitat, but averages about 750 acres.<br><br>
While javelina have lived to 24 years in captivity, the average life span is closer to seven or eight.
History:
The collared peccary, or javelina, evolved in South America and migrated north, only recently arriving in Arizona. Peccary bones are not found in Arizona archaeological sites and early settlers made infrequent references to their occurrence. It's possible that the peccary spread simultaneously with the replacement of Arizona's native grasslands by scrub and cactus. The collared peccary has one of the greatest latitudinal ranges of any New World game animal, occurring from Arizona to Argentina. The range of the peccary is still expanding, primarily northwestward. The collared peccary, which occurs in the United States only in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico, currently occupies approximately 34 percent of Arizona with an estimated population of 60,000 animals.
<br><br>Javelina were not legally designated as big game until 1929, when a season from November 1 through January 31 was authorized and a bag limit of one javelina a year was imposed. Hunter interest gradually increased, particularly among non-residents, and the javelina became an important game animal in Arizona after World War II. By 1950, hunters were purchasing nearly 10,000 javelina tags and taking more than 1,000 animals a year. In 1959, an archery javelina season was initiated, and by 1971 more than 30,000 hunters were harvesting more than 6,000 javelina a year. This pressure was deemed excessive in some game management units, and permit-only firearm hunting was instituted in 1972. To further curtail hunt pressure and better distribute hunters, permit-only HAM (handgun, archery, and muzzleloader) hunts were initiated in 1974, and archery hunting was limited to permit-only hunting in 1992. In 1999, 12,580 firearm permits, 7,760 HAM permits, and 9,220 archery permits were authorized, resulting in a harvest of 6,363 javelina.
Life Span:
Size:
about 3 feet long from nose to tail - 80-105cm (2.6-3.5ft)
Food:
Since javelina are found in so many habitats, its natural that their foods should vary. Javelina are opportunistic feeders. Eating flowers, fruits, nuts, berries, bulbs, and most succulent plants. Prickly pear cactus makes up the major portion of the diet. <br>
Cacti, insects, fruits, and seeds in season
Habitat:
Desert, chaparral, and oak-grasslands
Range:
Territory size varies with the productivity of the habitat, but averages about 750 acres<br>4 sq. miles<br>1K-6K ft<br>mostly south of Mogollon Rim
Reproduction:
2
Population:
estimated population of 60,000 animals
Search
