Javelina love to eat the pretty things we plant in our desert landscapes such as flowering annuals, and they don't stop there. There are some flowering plants that they usually stay away from and these include Bacopa and Lavender, which can be used in containers.
Will javelina eat my flowers?
So in the winter, when citrus fruit was plentiful on the trees, the Javelina would mostly ignore my flowers. In the summer, they would eat the seedpods from the Mesquite trees. There are plants that Javelina are less likely to eat, but if they are hungry enough, they will eat anything.
What do javelina lizards eat?
There are some flowering plants that they usually stay away from and these include Bacopa and Lavender, which can be used in containers. Depending on the time of year, a javelina’s diet changes, based on what is available. In winter, citrus they will grab citrus fruit off of the tree. In summer, mesquite seedpods are one of their favorite foods.
Do Javelinas eat mountain lion urine?
I have tried everything except the pepper, including mountain lion urine, to no avail. In fact, the javelinas ate the foam pieces which were to contain the urine. I do not care that the javelinas smell, are ugly and deposit their droppings all over the place.
Do javelina eat prickly pear cactus?
Prickly pear cactus fed on by Javelina. (Click on picture for a really good close up) Photo by AP Jones. Prickly pear that Javelina have been feeding on will have fibrous edges since Javelina do not have chopping teeth to cleanly bite it off. The opposite is true of prickly pear eaten by cattle and packrats.
Do javelinas like lavender?
If you wish, you may try planting repellant plants such as fragrant herbs among growing flowers and fruit trees, as these are supposedly plants javelina will not eat and tend to avoid. Rosemary and lavender are on some of the “won't eat” lists, as are basil and mint.
What plants will javelinas not eat?
Shrubs, Cacti, and SucculentsAloe.Barrel Cactus (5 gal. size or larger)Caesalpinia spp. ( i.e. Mexican, Red, and Yellow Bird of Paradise)Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii)Creosote.Desert Spoon (Dasylirion spp.)Euphorbia spp. (i.e. Gopher Plant, Fire Sticks, Moroccan Mound, etc.)Junipers.More items...•
What plants do javelinas like to eat?
Javelina are classified as herbivores. They eat a variety of native plant foods such as agave, mesquite beans, and prickly pear, as well as roots, tubers, and other green vegetation.
How do you keep javelinas from eating your flowers?
If you are unable to remove any plants that javelina like to eat, some residents have had success in using coffee grounds, garlic water, and/or red pepper flakes around these plants. Consider using hanging plant baskets if you insist on having greenery and flowers near your home.
What flowers do javelina not like?
Javelina will zero in on popular potted annuals such as pansies, petunias, snapdragons, which are like candy to them.
Will javelina eat tulips?
Plant toxic bulbs such as iris and narcissus instead of tasty bulbs such as tulips.
Do javelinas eat peonies?
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service even has a list of Javelina Resistant Plants, and, lo and behold, peonies are included as being javelina resistant!
Do javelinas eat gopher plants?
Javelina are omnivorous animals with poor eyesight and a keen sense of smell. They browse and eat roots of many plants. Their diet changes with food availability in their environment. They may also nibble on or dig up plants that they do not actually eat.
Do javelinas eat citrus?
Depending on the time of year, a javelina's diet changes, based on what is available. In winter, citrus they will grab citrus fruit off of the tree. In summer, mesquite seedpods are one of their favorite foods.
Can I shoot a javelina in AZ?
Javelina are classified as a big game species. It is unlawful to injure or kill game animals, even if they are causing a problem, unless certain rigorous provisions under the law have been met. See Arizona Game and Fish Department Hunting Regulations. It is unlawful to trap javelina.
Do javelinas dig holes?
They have also been known to dig up holes in homeowners yards, and even knock over garbage cans and pretty much set up camp in their yard! Funny to some perhaps, but very real. Click here if you would like to learn more about AZ javelinas.
What do you do if you encounter a javelina?
WHAT TO DO: If you find yourself near javelinas, you should never feed them. This will cause them to return and to lose their fear of humans. Javelina have poor eyesight and sometimes bite humans who feed them. While the danger is minimal, you should avoid all contact.
Javelina in the Desert Garden
Yesterday, I had a rather unexpected encounter with a javelina while taking pictures of a landscape. I think he was as surprised as I was to see him and he retreated back to his arroyo after a couple of minutes. That meeting inspired me to write this post and how they affect the desert garden – primarily what types of plants they like to eat.
Face Off With Wild Pigs
Working on golf courses provided me with many opportunities to interact with our native wildlife. Now, most of my interactions were welcome – roadrunners, jackrabbits, even baby raccoons. Some encounters were unexpected – snakes, tarantulas and coyotes.
Where can I find Javelina?
Javelina are found throughout the Southwest, but their range also extends to Central and South America. In urban settings, you’ll find them in more naturalized areas. They frequently travel in herds, although I only saw these two adults on this day. While it can be enjoyable to view them from afar (don’t get too close as they can be dangerous), ...
Do javelina eat prickly pear cactus?
The spines on your prized cactus won’t deter a hungry javelina – they go right in and munch on the base of a prized columnar cactus as well as the pads of prickly pear cactus. When surveying the damage that they cause to the garden, what makes it worse, is that javelina frequently don’t eat what they dig up.
Can Javelina eat cactus?
While there is no guarantee that javelina won’t eat the plants in your desert garden from time to time, there are some plants that are less palatable to them than others.
Where are Javelinas from?
My grandparents came here in the 1800s and my parents were both born in the territory. Javelinas are not natives of northern nor central Arizona. They were brought in by some misguided Federal program. There are plenty of Javelinas in Mexico.
Why doesn't Yarchin like mothballs?
Yarchin said he doesn’t like using mothballs because it just means that many more chemicals leaching into the soil. Yarchin also said you should try to discourage them from getting comfortable. You could try spraying them with a hose, but I think they might actually like that.
Do you need a block fence for javelinas?
You don’t need to put up a great big block fence. Try driving some wrought-iron stakes deep into the ground and maybe reinforcing them with chicken wire. You need to make sure there isn’t anyone in the neighborhood putting food out for the javelinas because they think they’re cute animals.
Is Javalina a rodent?
Javalina are rodents and carry disease . They are destructive and dangerous to livestock, pets, and people. If you put out anything to attract them you are an idiot and your neighbors should be allowed to tar and feather you. Ollie 19 December, 2012 at 20:04 Reply.
