I crouched down to snap some eye-level shots of this javelina herd (there were 10, total), admittedly getting a hair too close. Sitting approximately 20 feet away, I felt pretty content. Before long, however, one of the younger members of the group started getting curious, meandering steadily closer to me. I methodically backed up as he/she gained ground. The youngster was soon within an arm’s length, at which point I decided to back up a bit faster. This startled the adventurous one, drawing the attention of several others who rushed in to protect their comrade. I bolted over a nearby fence and the javelina lost interest. Javelina aka collared peccary have abysmal eyesight, but a brilliant sense of smell. Their behaviour can be unpredictable, especially when babies are in tow, so always respect the space of these bizarre desert dwellers!
Catalina Foothills, AZ.
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