Javelinas, also known as collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu), are native to Texas. They are often mistakenly identified as wild pigs, but are a distinct species, not wild hogs or feral swine.
Understanding the Javelina
Javelinas differ from true pigs. They are relatively small, typically 18 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing 35 to 60 pounds. Their coarse, bristly hair is gray or brown, with a distinctive whitish “collar” around their neck and shoulders. Javelinas have short, straight tusks that point downwards.
These animals belong to the family Tayassuidae, New World peccaries, separate from the Old World pig family, Suidae. Javelinas have three toes on their hind feet, while pigs have four. They also possess a prominent dorsal scent gland for communication and territorial marking. Their stomach structure is more complex, aiding digestion of their plant-based diet.
Geographic Range in Texas
Javelinas are primarily found in the southwestern one-third of Texas. Their current distribution includes the Trans-Pecos region, the South Texas Plains, and parts of the Edwards Plateau. They also inhabit portions of the lower coastal plains and the southern edge of the Rolling Plains. Historically, their range extended further north to the Red River and east to the Brazos River, but has since receded.
They thrive in arid and semi-arid environments, preferring brushlands, deserts, and oak-juniper woodlands. Their preferred landscapes often feature mesquite and thornscrub vegetation. Javelinas are adapted to dry conditions, with specialized kidneys that conserve water. They can survive with limited surface water by obtaining moisture from succulent plants, particularly prickly pear cactus.
Life and Habits of Javelinas
Javelinas are social animals that live in groups called herds or squadrons, typically 5 to 15 individuals, though larger groups have been observed. Herd members eat, sleep, and forage together. They communicate through vocalizations like grunts, barks, and woofs, and engage in social rubbing using their dorsal scent glands to mark territory.
Their diet is predominantly herbaceous, consisting of plants, roots, fruits, and cacti. Prickly pear cactus is a particularly important food source, sometimes making up as much as 80% of their diet, especially during drier periods. They also consume mesquite beans, sotol, lechuguilla, and various forbs and grasses.
Javelina activity patterns vary with temperature and season. They are often crepuscular, active during dawn and dusk. During hotter summer months, they may become more nocturnal to avoid daytime heat, seeking shelter in caves, under rock overhangs, or in dense brush. In cooler weather, they tend to be more active throughout the day, often basking in the sun.
They play a role in their ecosystem by consuming and dispersing seeds, particularly from cacti.