Dicotyles tajacu
Collared peccary — a desert herd animal that smells strongly of musk.
1–1.5 in long. Small cloven print, almost square. Only one dewclaw on the hind foot. Herd trails through cactus flats. Musky odor at bedding sites.
Desert scrub, mesquite, canyons, suburban washes. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas into South America.
Crepuscular, nocturnal in heat
Prickly pear, roots, tubers, insects
Javelinas aren't pigs — they're peccaries, an entirely separate family.
Should I be concerned?
Poor eyesight makes them startle. Keep dogs away and back off calmly.