In recognition of the spears, iconic native wildlife of Texas

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During my stays in West Texas, I watch out for collar peculiarities like forgotten ghost animals along back roads and trails. Javelinas, as they are commonly known, are an indomitable icon of the American Southwest. Yet this tough, tenacious survivor rarely gets the recognition he deserves as a true Texas native deserving of respect and protection.

The problem is, many people mistake spears for invasive, polluting wild boars. It is a case of false identity: spears look pig-like, just as bison look like cow or coyotes look like dog. However, peccaries and pigs are biologically different animals that are divided into separate families. Although sharing a common evolutionary lineage, the two families diverged about 40 million years ago, with pigs evolving in the Old World and peccaries in the New World. Today there are three species of peccary living on the American continent: the white-lipped peccary, the Chacoan peccary and the collar peccary. The latter is the most common species and ranges from Argentina to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Named for a collar of whitish fur around the neck and shoulders, the collared peccaries are about 2 feet tall, weigh 40 to 60 pounds, and have coarse dark fur, a large head with a disc-like muzzle, razor-sharp canines and rounded ears, a small tail and a slender but strong body on long, thin legs with graceful hooves. Spears are primarily herbivores and have a complex stomach system that can digest cacti, lechuguilla, sotol, mesquite beans, acorns, roots, and grasses. Their favorite diet in Texas is the prickly pear, and they can survive on the thorny pads during extended periods of drought.

Spears have an undeserved reputation for ferocity. “I remind people that spears aren’t dangerous,” says Raymond Skiles, a retired wildlife biologist from Big Bend National Park. “A basic policy is to give them space. When they get into your campsite or yard, go back and leave them outside. They are not a predator and are not generally aggressive. If you follow the “do not feed the wildlife” guidelines, you can live in peace with them. “One caveat: Javelinas despise dogs and mistake them for coyotes. So keep your dog on a leash in the spear habitat – or better leave your old buddy at home.

Sometimes referred to as “stink pigs” or “musk pigs,” spears emit a sharp, skunk-like spray from a scent gland near the tail to mark their territory, bond with the herd, and repel predators. You will often smell a spear – a myopic creature with a keen sense of smell – before you ever see it. Spears are very social herd animals that communicate with grunts, dog-like barks, yips, gunshots, growls, and loud teeth and jaws cracking when threatened. The number of flocks or “squadrons” ranges from five to 35. It is a pleasure to see a Mama Javelina with her tiny “shades of red,” the nickname for maroon babies.

When I was hiking in the Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park at sunset last fall, I asked myself, “Where have all the spears gone?” It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the often-photographed squadron of spears that once stood on the Pool campsite had celebrity status.

“The spears didn’t make it in the Chisos Basin,” says Skiles. “I thought spears would always be there like prickly pears and never go away, but since Big Bend 2011 had the worst drought ever recorded, none was seen in the pool.”

After crossing Big Bend Country from Marfa to Chinati Hot Springs and Presidio to National Park last fall, all I saw was a spear – a lonely sentry post along a highway in the Davis Mountains.

“Outdoor spear watching is like a natural television to me,” said Dave Larson, former Big Bend chief of resource management and now superintendent of Fort Davis National Historic Site. “Every time I see spears, I stop to watch them because they are fascinating animals that can survive in harsh, dry environments. We should be proud of the spear as a North American wild animal. “

Larson believes severe drought and natural predators could affect spear populations in Big Bend National Park. After the 2011 drought, he says, black bears, a top spear predator along with mountain lions and coyotes, came out of the highlands and hunted spears near the park headquarters in Panther Junction.

Humans are another apex predator. From the 1880s to the late 1930s, hunters slaughtered countless spears in Texas and Mexico for their tough skins, which were used for gloves and other leather goods. The skin hunt massacre subsided in 1939 when the spear was given protection as a wild animal in Texas, with a year-round season and a pocket limit of two per year. Nowadays, spear hunting is popular at ranches in South Texas that appeal to wildlife watchers and nature photographers as well.

Historically, spears in Texas reached north to the Red River and east to the Brazos. Over the decades, its reach has shrunk to South Texas Brush County, western Edwards Plateau, and Trans-Pecos. Texas is home to approximately 200,000 spears, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, which has taken aerial photographs of spear populations. That’s more than Arizona and New Mexico. It’s still a small number compared to the estimated 1.5 million wild boars in Texas who use spears to compete for natural food sources. Another pressure on spear populations is habitat loss as landowners clear land for agriculture and other uses.

Despite these threats, “Spears are doing very well in South Texas,” says Chico Barrera, a Kingsville-based TPWD natural resource specialist. “As long as you don’t disturb their groups, they will thrive in oak and mesquite mottes and mixed-brush communities.” South of Kingsville, sprawling ranches like the King and Kenedy are home to large populations of spears.

The spear is also a cultural icon in South Texas and acts as the official mascot for Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s sports programs. Students chose the spear as their school mascot in 1925 because of its violent and persistent behavior. A striking spear sculpture, Leaders of the Pack, adorns the campus entrance.

Like human athletes, the spear is a team player with a strong, protective loyalty to the herd. Their toughness, endurance and resilience are qualities that we can all admire.

“Spears play a role in everything that comes with a native landscape,” says Skiles. “As soon as you experience spears on a peaceful basis, you find that they add remarkable wealth to our lives.”

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