Meeting up with Javalina

[Ravenbird]

After 4 years, a hike finally led to a small number of javelinas. They really aren't afraid of anything and have been known to tear into dogs if harassed. We were off leash and on a familiar trail and Asha suddenly exploded in chase mode - I was thinking deer at first as I shouted NO, HERE! Asha immediately circled back to me with zero hesitation and was on her way back before I even got my hand on the remote - so high drive recall got an A+ today. But I digress - about the time Asha wheeled toward me I heard the grunt and smelled the javalina - they have scent glands similar to a skunk. I leashed up Asha and we watched it leave. I thought maybe it was a loner, didn't see any others and then Asha went into alert mode behind us and two more were coming up. I had my phone out to video and my left hand holding the leash so couldn't use the e-collar remote without dropping one of those. I just held on and let her look & bark. When I say this dog can pull, I mean she really doesn't care if she chokes to death or if her neck is cut in half. Zero poops to give. Here are a few screen shots of the video. I'll get the video on youtube to share here later.

 

[Cferg]

Ol skunk pigs. The scent gland is actually on their backs, correct?

 

[Ravenbird]

The scent gland is actually on their backs, correct?

Yes! You win the lottery today!

 

[Ravenbird]

video - bumpy and all over the place, but hanging onto Asha was priority, just not priority enough to drop the phone, lol.

 

[Ravenbird]

First link I shared wouldn't work, I think this one will.

 

[Ddski5]

Wow…great job Asha!! I am sure she had a nose full of that scent and won’t forget it.

Learned something today, javelinas are not hogs. We have feral hogs (razorbacks) here in Louisiana and they destroy a lot of farmland. Good eating if you get them at the right age.

Are Javelinas a protected species? I read contradictory info on that.

 

[Cferg]

video - bumpy and all over the place, but hanging onto Asha was priority, just not priority enough to drop the phone, lol.

Nice bark Asha! @1:00 That wasn’t a defensive bark, sounded like a frustration bark. Did she think if she dad that enough you would let her have it? Haha bark and hold

 

[Ravenbird]

Are Javelinas a protected species? I read contradictory info on that

I don't know about other states but over 1300 permits to kill one were issued in the '22-'23 hunt season.

My apologies for my misspelling - Javelina is correct.

 

[Ravenbird]

she think if she dad that enough you would let her have it? Haha

There is ALWAYS wishful thinking on her part!

 

[JanS]

Wow I'm so glad we don't have to deal with that sort of thing around here. I would eat it if we had a permit though.

On average, how big are they?

 

[Rits]

What a great girl and recall. Don't you love seeing that hard work pay off! Makes my heart sing to see my dogs listen in high drive. Ripley would be pulling my arm off too

 

[Ravenbird]

On average, how big are they?

I think about 30 - 50 lbs, not as tall as a Doberman, but more like a brick, all body and short legs. Nothing saves them but for their attitude and teeth. Unlike other wild critters, you see this one stands and looks and finally trots away.

This is about an average size skull, but I have another that's bigger than this.

 

[JanS]

Those teeth!

 

[Katyusharocket]

Seeing those teeth, I know what my nightmares will be tonight. Great job to both of you for having the relationship and training to get out of that un-injured. Until tonight, I had never heard of this critter. Kind of horrifying based on both your description and what else I am reading of them. I complain a lot about winters here, but it probably keeps a lot of the riff-raff away, including this.

 

[Ravenbird]

Seeing those teeth, I know what my nightmares will be tonight. Great job to both of you for having the relationship and training to get out of that un-injured. Until tonight, I had never heard of this critter. Kind of horrifying based on both your description and what else I am reading of them. I complain a lot about winters here, but it probably keeps a lot of the riff-raff away, including this.

They aren't human aggressive, but loose dogs agitating them does set them off, especially if there are babies around. Not much different than other wildlife when you think about it. They don't go looking for trouble is what I mean, just very defensive if they get challenged. Which is why I leashed up my dog as fast as I could. A few years back a neighbor of ours was walking with their dog and it got attacked by several javelinas, just about a half mile from my house. It was emergency surgery and lots of stitches to fix that dog up. I don't trust them at all, even though they look little and almost cute.

 

[Katyusharocket]

almost cute

"Almost" being the key word here, at least for me.

 

[JanS]

Wow I'm so glad we don't have to deal with that sort of thing around here. I would eat it if we had a permit though.

I guess I'll have to take that back soon. They just had a story about "super pigs" invading Minnesota on our local radio station. They aren't what you have, but a cross between wild boars and domestic pigs that reach around 500#. Apparently they originated in Canada and when the market went down the farmers released them into the wild.

 

[Ravenbird]

I guess I'll have to take that back soon. They just had a story about "super pigs" invading Minnesota on our local radio station. They aren't what you have, but a cross between wild boars and domestic pigs that reach around 500#. Apparently they originated in Canada and when the market went down the farmers released them into the wild.

I'd take our little "mini pigs" any day compared to those feral hogs. Those things have caused endless destruction and numbers have rising, especially in the southern states.

 

[MyBuddy]

"Almost" being the key word here, at least for me.

I'll say! LOL I don't think they're cute at all. I think they're damn scary looking! I wouldn't want to be meeting up with one on the trail! Meet up with a pack of those and I'd be terrified, feeling very outnumbered!

when the market went down the farmers released them into the wild.

I hate when I hear that. Why are the people release things into the wild??

I'm so glad that her recall was so perfect! And it was nice of you to catch a video for us but don't worry about that if you need your hands for something else!

 

[JanS]

Why are the people release things into the wild??

It's the extremely irresponsible people and it messes up the natural habitat where ever it happens. It's way too popular with aquatic fish and reptiles too. Someone thinks it's a good idea to get a baby alligator, etc., then are surprised when they grow into something they can't handle.