Do Javelina kill cats and dogs? I live in AZ and my cat was no more than 2 ft. from 2 Javelina.?

Question

My place backs up to Tonto Nat. Forrest. I see Elk, Coyotes, skunks and quail. I have 2 dogs and have a doggie door so I can't keep the cat in. She was a ferral cat as a baby and seems to have no fear. I lock everyone up at night because of the bears and stuff. There are 2 Javelina that keep coming around and they actually challenge my big dog (95 lbs.) through the fence. I yell and throw stuff but they act like I'm not there. I am afraid to go for walks because they show up whenever they want and seem to be fearless. My cat was laying no more than 2 feet away from the Javelina and they paid no attention to her. I ran outside with my BB gun and the sound scare them off. They were back within minutes. Any suggestion on how to rid them from hanging out in my back. It's the forrest and I know they are there and please don't suggest shooting them because they are not in season and you have to be picked for hunting Javelina. Do they attack people?

Answer 1

I've lived in AZ for nearly 6 years, and while not an expert, I have some ideas. First, call your local animal control. Tell them whats worrying you, maybe they could make a humane suggestion for you. Who knows, maybe they even have a policy.
As for attack, my understanding is that yes, they will attack. I think you're smart to stay on the safe side and keep everyone in at night. I have even heard that if a herd of javelinas feel threatened, they will attack, maim and sometime kill adult humans who are alone, so please be careful.
As I said, I'm no expert, but I think your best bet would be to call animal control and ask for their help. Thats what they're there for!

Answer 2

Javalinas are members of the peccary family, a group of hoofed mammals, not pigs as some people may think.

They have very poor eyesight, and may appear to be charging when actually trying to escape.

They have a keen sense of smell and they eat primarily plants, including cacti, succulent plants, bulbs, tubers, beans and seeds; sometimes eat insects, garbage and grubs.

Javelina will likely visit if you live in a semi-urban area near a wash or other natural desert. Javelina usually cause only minor problems for people by surprising them or eating a few plants. However, people should NEVER feed javelina; this can cause them to become regular visitors and lose their fear of people, creating problems for the neighborhood and often leading to the death of the javelina. Javelina occasionally bite humans, but almost always when people were providing the javelina with food; javelina can inflict a serious wound. Defensive javelina behavior may include charging, teeth clacking, or a barking, growling sound. Javelina may act defensively when cornered, to protect their young, or when they hear or smell a dog. Dogs and coyotes are natural predators of javelina, and they can seriously hurt or kill each other. Javelina around your home may inadvertently attract mountain lions as well, because javelina are mountain lion prey.

What Attracts Them?
Javelina usually visit homes to find food, water or shelter.

Food for javelina can include lush vegetation and many flowers and succulent plants that people place around their homes. Birdseed, table scraps and garbage can also attract javelina.

Water can be provided through chewing on an irrigation hose or by drinking from a pool or other water source around a home. Javelina will also dig and roll in moist soil during summer days to keep cool.

Shelter can take the form of a porch, an area under a mobile home, a crawlspace beneath a house, or any other cave-like area. Javelina will seek shade during summer days and warmth during the winter, if these areas are not properly secured.

To discourage a javelina, immediately:

Scare off animals by making loud noises (bang pots, yell, stomp on the floor, etc.), throwing small rocks in their direction, or spraying with water from a garden hose or large squirt gun filled with diluted ammonia (10% ammonia and 90% water).

If the animal is confined, open a gate, have all people leave the area, and allow it to leave on its own. If it is still there the following day, contact a wildlife control business or the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

If you see javelina while walking your dog, avoid going near the javelina and quickly take your dog in a different direction.

Possible Health Concerns
Rabies - Javelina can catch rabies, although they do not generally carry it without symptoms. Symptoms of rabies can include foaming at the mouth; erratic, hyperactive behavior; and/or fearful, paralyzed and lethargic behavior. If you see any animal with rabies symptoms, call 911 or your local Arizona Game and Fish Department office right away.

Anyone bitten by a javelina must immediately seek medical attention from a qualified health care provider. Whenever possible, the animal should be captured or killed and sent to a laboratory for rabies testing.

Distemper - Javelina are known to catch distemper, which can be transmitted to pets. Distemper is a viral disease that consists of fever, loss of appetite, coughing, and eye and nose discharge.

Salmonella - Salmonella or other bacteria that commonly cause food poisoning sometimes take a toll on javelina herds. Symptoms include diarrhea, inability to walk, staying close to a water source, and death.

Answer 3

The main part of the javelina's (peccary's) diet is plants. They will eat reptiles too. They can be fierce if cornered or attacked...but I don't think they would attack your cat unless they were sick/deranged or extremely hungry and had no other food source. If they have found a food source near your home, it will be next to impossible to get rid of them. They are stubborn.

Here is an excellent link to find out more information about the peccary:

http://www.desertusa.com/magnov97/nov_pap/du_collpecc.html

Answer 4

They most certainly do and if you get one mad at you he will come after you without hesitation.
You mention coyotes they are probably one of the worst for coming out of the scrubb and attacking domestic animals killing them and carting them off for food. they are east prey for the coyote.
You mentioned you have a fence is it inclosed around your property, if not that may be a consideration.
You can purchase one of those electrical zappers hook it up to your fence with the ground outside the fence line, this way your pets wont get shocked, but if the pig moves up and touches the ground wire and pokes his nose through the fence he will get a non lethal shock.

these zappers can be purchased at most feed stores. they work great with chain link fenses. this will also deter any coyotes who decide to pay a visit.

Answer 5

Javelina Attack

Answer 6

Can you provide more insight?

Answer 7

Thanks for the answers EVERYONE <3