Javelinas Reunited with Herds
Two young javelinas, each from different herds and found in different locations, came to Tucson Wildlife Center after being left behind by their families.
Accidental orphaning can happen when a herd is suddenly frightened and moves off quickly, leaving a young one behind in confusion. At that age, they are still completely dependent on their family for protection and guidance, so being separated can become dangerous.
The older of the two arrived weak, extremely dehydrated, and struggling to stand, with her back legs splaying out beneath her. X-rays did not show anything concerning, but she was also battling an upper respiratory infection. After fluids, medication, and several weeks of rehabilitation, she was finally strong enough for a chance to be reunited with her family.
The finders who brought her to TWC played a critical role in making that possible. Because they knew the time and place the herd usually passed through each morning, our team was able to get ahead of them and release her from her crate just as her family walked by. As you can see in the video, her mother and siblings stopped and waited for her to catch up before continuing up the hill together.
The younger javelina arrived dehydrated and with severe diarrhea. To help settle her digestive system, she received rice cereal in her formula and pumpkin to help firm her stools. While diarrhea can be a common cause for mortality in young javelinas, this little one proved especially resilient.
As she began to recover, her personality quickly emerged, and she became a tiny ball of energy, enthusiastically playing with a stuffed javelina in her enclosure (see video). In contrast to the older javelina’s sweet and gentle nature, she showed a feisty, spirited attitude from the start. She, too, was successfully reunited with her family.
These reunions are some of the most rewarding moments in wildlife rehabilitation and are only possible because caring people step in when wildlife needs help. If you come across a young javelina—or any young wild animal—that appears to be alone, please call Tucson Wildlife Center before intervening so we can help determine the best next steps. If you would like to help patients like these javelinas, click this link to donate,
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