Hello! I saw a pig-like animal down in Arizona. It was dark,but eating prickly pear cuctus. What was it?

Question

I am asking from Tokyo. My family had a trip to US and we encountered an unidentified animal at night. My kids keep asking me what it was. Please somebody tell me!

Answer 1

no idea . maybe an alien

Answer 2

Facts

Collared Peccary is the only wild, native, pig-like animal found in the United States.

The Collared Peccary, also known as the Javelina, Tayaussa or the Musk Hog.

They are called Javelina because of their razor-sharp tusks, Spanish for javelin or spear.

You may smell a peccary before you see it.

The prickly pear is ideal food for the Collared Peccary due to its high water content.

Collared Peccary have poor eyesight and good hearing.


Collared Peccaries look similar to pigs, Peccaries are classified in a family of their own because of anatomical differences. They are members of the Tayassuidae Family while true pigs are members of the Suidae Family.

Peccaries are more slender and 30-50 pounds smaller than pigs, have longer, thinner legs and smaller hooves. Peccaries have only 3 toes on each hind foot (instead of 4), and the upper tusks (1.5 inches long) are pointed down, (rather than curled as with some other feral wild pigs). Peccaries also have a powerful musk gland on the top of the rump. Their odor is always apparent, especially when they are excited. You may smell a peccary before you see it.

Description

Peccaries have large heads and long snouts with thick coats of dark-gray, bristly hair and band of white hair (collar) around the neck. A mane of long, stiff hairs runs down the back from head to rump, where scent gland is located.

The adult male Collared Peccary is 46 to 60 inches in length and is usually 20 to 24 inches in height. The adult male weighs between 40 and 60 pounds.

The Peccary is colored a grizzled black and gray overall with a dark dorsal stripe but is lighter around the shoulders. The fur is very coarse.

The young are reddish to yellow-brown in color. In adults there is a mane that extends down the crown of the head to the rump, which is most obvious when the Peccary is excited.

Arigato gozaimasu.

Answer 3

It could have been a wild pig. There are wild pigs in the southwest US and they are dark skinned. I remember my cousin talking about going wild boar hunting when he used to live down in that area. Prickly pear cactus would probably be one of the few things it has to eat there.

Answer 4

it is a wild boar and don't get around it they have been known to attack people because they eat meat sometimes. They are scavengers and will eat just about anything. Take into consideration that is just wild boars that have never had any human contact all pigs are not that way

Answer 5

That was my cat Andy. He is a pig shaped like a cat. When he lays on his back, he looks like a tan bear rug. (Lots of fur and lots of Andy)

Answer 6

It could be a new species no kidding. Try getting a pic of it next time. You could earn big bucks!

Answer 7

it was a wild pig if it had tusks it was a boar excellent tasting if u eat them

Answer 8

its a javlina ( hav-a-lina) i live in tucson AZ and see them all the time. they arnt dangous unless cornerd and the eat anything from garbage to catuse

Answer 9

It's probably a Javelina.

Answer 10

depends where you where but it could have been a wild boar, they are incredibly mean.