Javelina lunges at Phoenix man at Tucson resort

Rey Covarrubias Jr., Arizona Republic
·2 min read

A javelina attacked a Phoenix man in Tucson on Friday, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The 76-year-old man crossed a bridge at the Canyon Ranch Tucson resort in the northeast part of the city when a javelina, which was part of a larger group, lunged toward him.

The man was taken to University Medical Center for a shin abrasion and rabies treatment before he was released.

Game and Fish officials urged residents to keep their distance from wildlife.

Have there been other javelina attacks this year?

On Feb. 1, a 64-year-old woman walking her dogs was bitten several times by a javelina at Tucson's La Madera Park near Tucson Boulevard and Glenn Street. She was taken to a hospital for treatment and later released.

In early January, a 68-year-old woman also walking a dog was bit and attacked by a javelina in the unincorporated community of Pearce, 85 miles southeast of Tucson. The woman was treated at the hospital and released.

What to know about living with javelinas

Javelinas are part of the peccary family that originated in South America, according to Game and Fish.

Game and Fish described javelinas as appearing like wild pigs with peppered black, gray and brown hair with a faint white collar.

Adult javelinas can reach 40 to 50 pounds and instinctually travel in packs of sometimes more than 20.

Game and Fish officials said it's normal for Arizonans to live alongside javelinas, especially in semi-urban areas or those near a natural desert.

The Game and Fish Department provided these tips to stay safe around javelinas:

  • Never feed javelinas

  • Leave the area if you see javelinas while walking a dog

  • Scare off the animals by making loud noises, using a garden hose, or using a one-part ammonia to nine-part water combination in a water gun

  • Allow a confined animal to escape by leaving all gates open

USA Today's Natalie Neysa Alund contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Javelina lunges at Phoenix man at Canyon Ranch Resort in Tucson