Carol Sterling
It was just one of “those” kind of mornings. You know the kind; a December morning, just after a light rain the night before. The sky was blue, the air was crystal clear and crisp; you could see your breath. Walking down a ravine, I was stunned by the beauty of the crystalline dazzle of icy droplets on the saguaro, ocotillo and creosote bushes, pristine and tranquil, until I heard the noise. Was it an injured goose? Was it some sort of demented animal? Actually, the first time I saw a javelina was that particular morning and I heard a cacophony of grunting/squealing and the equally odd sounds of excited children screaming!
It was quite exciting at the time. There was a herd of 20 javelinas of all ages, clamoring at the front porch of a house across the ravine. Meanwhile, children were at the front door, screaming and laughing while throwing bread out to feed them! What a riot!
I’ve since learned from the Arizona Sonora Museum that Javelinas are classified as herbivores. They eat all types of cactus, roots, tubers and other things. Who knows why they were interested in stale bread crumbs thrown by screaming kids? A mystery of nature!
However, during my second sighting of javelinas, I discovered their other favorite food. This time it was twilight and I was looking out my living room window. I heard a kind of high-pitched squeal and looked out. What should I see but a mother, father and baby javelina rooting around in my prickly pear cactus! I was stunned; in my backyard? For heaven’s sake, what were they doing there and where did they come from? As it turns out, my property is on the other side of the McMicken Dam and where there’s a will there’s a way. I assume the javelinas had the will! I had the good food and I had a camera this time!
Carol Sterling is a White Tank Mountains Conservancy steward who lives in Sun City Grand. https://WTMConservancy.org/volunteer.