Golfing with the Javelinas

Yesterday I was golfing with my nephew at a great Arizona course. My ball landed 15-feet from a pack of six Javalinas. One looked like he was ready to charge me, but I stomped my club on the ground and they ran into the woods. 


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