Close Encounter at Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge
How to Get Great Photographs of Javelina
Javelina baby’s are called “reds” because of their reddish color hair. Unlike piglets who are helpless at birth, the red is quickly up and running - literally. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
By Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Wildlife photographer and D: W team member, Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
When COVID-19 closed international borders in the fall of 2020, I found myself scrambling.
Autumn photography in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, had been great (the moose rut!), but a deep freeze had pushed me south by late October. Expecting to spend the winter months in Mexico photographing birds, I suddenly found myself searching for a replacement location in the U.S. The criteria: excellent wildlife photography and no prolonged temperatures below 20 F (-7 C). Keeping the RV water tank from freezing is a high priority!
Then I remembered! Isn't there a wildlife refuge in the U.S. southwest where thousands of birds spend the winter months?
Over 350 avian species can be found at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, the famous wintering ground for sandhill crane and snow goose pictured here. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
So it came about that I spent three months at New Mexico's Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. And, even though it was established in 1939 as a migrating bird sanctuary, and is one of the top birding destinations in the world, this article is not about birds. At Bosque, I fell in love with an unexpected subject.
What Looks Like a Pig and Acts like a Pig - But is Not a Pig?
✓ Trip Tips
Where: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
What: Javelina Photography
When: November to March
How: Albuquerque Intl. Airport. Interstate 25 or State 80 or 380
Is it a ... Javelina?
A Javelina ("have-a-LEEN-a") or Collared Peccary is not a pig. They are ungulates closely related to sheep, goats, and deer and belong to the Tayassuidae family verses pigs which belong to the Suidae family.
At first glance javelina and pigs look similar but look again: javelina have small ears, no tail, three toes on the hind foot, and straight canine teeth. On the other hand, pigs have large, upright ears, a curly tail, four toes, and curved canine teeth. The species’ differences are apparent right from their first day, a pig’s pink babies are helpless, but the javelina “reds” are up and running shortly after birth.
Pigs are omnivores while javelina are considered herbivores. And although javelina have the large canines usually found in carnivores, they use them for digging up roots, eating mostly prickly pear cactus, roots and other vegetation, however, witnesses have seen them eating lizards, rodents, or birds on rare occasions.
Javelina are herbivores with an attitude. Give them space, when afraid, hurt, or cornered, the entire herd or “squadron” will attack together. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Javelina live in family groups of approximately ten animals but up to 50+ individuals called a herd or squadron. Javelina have scent glands on their back, which they use to mark other herd members by rubbing against them. They also use this gland to mark their territory.
Babies! Always expect some little ones in a javelina squadron! Since they can have babies at any time of the year, there's always a good chance of seeing one or two "reds" (baby javelina) in a good-sized herd. And yes, their parents may not be considered cute by most standards, but the babies are.
Nothing in Sight… A Bosque del Apache Surprise
I remember my first time vividly… No, not that first time. It was my third week exploring the deserted Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. I had already made thousands of images of the refuge's main visitors – snow geese and sandhill cranes – when I saw something small move in the bushes. I parked the car, grabbed my camera with a 70-200mm lens, and went in for a closer look: perhaps it was the ever elusive bobcat?
When the brush moved around me at Bosque del Apache, I thought it might be the rustle of a rarely seen bob cat. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
There was nothing in sight, but I could hear something moving in the bushes. I walked further into the forest, sat down. I stayed quiet for a few minutes and quickly realized that it wasn't just one animal in the bushes: I was surrounded by movement!
Then a critter cautiously walked into the open, followed by another, and then more, until about 20 of them surrounded me: javelina! What do I do? Make a run for it? Or trust that these critters have more important things on their mind than eating a photographer?
I stayed still.
As if to prove that they genuinely are (mostly) herbivores, they all went about their business digging up roots, coming as close to me as a few feet - but I remained aware! Although javelina are not known for attacking humans, they are able to inflict serious damage with their large, canine-like teeth, especially when they are cornered or feel threatened. Always give them respect - and space.
What to Do When Surrounded by Javelina?
Watch the animal carefully - it will usually “tell” you how it feels. An excellent way to gauge a javelina's comfort level is by their mane. If they are angry or frightened, the bristles will stand up.
In general, when a javelina approaches, back away slowly. In my case, however, I had nowhere to go with javelina all around me, so I made sure they knew I was there by talking to them, and what else could I do but start making images?
Experiences like these, when you find the wild animal seemingly trusting you, are exceptional. The animals willingly approached me as if I was nothing more than a part of the scenery - but still, feeding or touching is always out of the question, dangerous for you and the animal.
And of course, keep your guard up: these are wild animals, and there is always a level of unpredictability. But, seeing an animal that doesn't know a human being as a mortal threat, as with this group, is somewhat of a rarity and a real treat - although their behavior at Bosque may change now that javelina hunting is allowed in the refuge annually between January and March.
Along with human predators, the javelina also need to be wary of coyotes, bob cats and where they inhabit the same areas, black bear and mountain lion. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
The Unmistakable Scent of Javelina
Being so close to a whole family of javelina also confirmed what I would later read: they have a strong musky, unmistakable smell. As a result, they have earned the nickname "skunk pig." The story goes that you can typically smell a herd of javelina before seeing them: but that is a small price to pay for my up-close encounter. For almost 20 minutes, I sat there on the ground, surrounded by the herd as they munched on leaves, dug up roots, chased each other - and yes, occasionally threw a glance in my direction.
And you know what the craziest part is? A few weeks later, when I was hiking around the refuge in the late afternoon, this experience repeated itself!
Where and How to Find Javelina
☞Javelina Fast Facts
Pronounciation: have-a-LEEN-a Scientific name: Pecari Tacaju or Tayassu Tacaju
Size: 35-55 pounds (15.9 -25kg). Up to 4 feet (122cm) long and 2 feet (61cm) tall.
Life Span: 10 years in the wild
A Litter (2) can be born all year
Gestation is 145 days
Newborns are called "reds."
Groups are herds or squadrons
Javelina thrive in the desert Southwest states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona as well as throughout Mexico, and Central and South America. Since my first encounter, I have enjoyed photographing javelina here in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, and in other places in the U.S including Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona, Big Bend National Park, Texas, and Hueco Tanks State Park, Texas. But although the javelina are there, they still have to be located. So, how to find them?
Caveat: when you go out into javelina territory, do not expect to be surrounded by a herd!
Most places allow hunting, which teaches the animals to be extra skittish, so concealing yourself in a wildlife blind or a vehicle helps. Cars make good blinds and on several occasions, javelina walked right by mine, allowing for close-up shots. Stay quiet and be patient. Look for them in areas with dense cover, in desert washes, and along the edge of fields.
Water is scarce in the desert and animals will congregate near it, so it is helpful to set up your blind or park your car near a water hole. And remember, stay quiet and be patient.
Time of day? When it is cold, look for them during the daytime. On warmer days, they tend to be active from dusk until dawn.
My Best Tips for Getting Great Photographs of Javelina
Javelina are relatively small animals, so it's hard to have too much lens while photographing them.
Focal length: Anything over 400mm is my recommendation, and even then, you'll likely be cropping your images. A long focal length also allows you to keep your distance. Because of poor eyesight, javelina cannot see further than 30-feet (9-meters); they'll possibly not know you're there.
Shutter Speed: While the subject is munching on vegetation, you can go pretty slow with your shutter speed. However, unlike a moose or bison, javelina do not typically 'just stand there,' so I keep my shutter speed up as needed.
When using my 500mm lens, I like to stick around 1/1000s.
Javelina seem to have somewhat of a temper, so you'll see them chasing each other quite frequently: during these times of rapid movement, I raise my shutter speed to 1/2000s if the light allows it.
When available light is low, I prioritize shutter speed over keeping the ISO low: modern software like Topaz DeNoise helps clean up high ISO and grainy images. It's much easier nowadays to clean up a high ISO image than it is to turn an out-of-focus image into a sharp one.
The Bosque del Apache is a vital but fragile desert wetland formed by the Rio Grande, it is scrupulously managed to maintain habitat for wildlife that are permanent residents and the tens of thousands of birds who migrate here every year. The Friends of the Bosque del Apache provide funds for water use efficiency and conservation. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Tips on Where to Stay near Bosque del Apache
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in southern New Mexico. No overnight parking or camping is allowed in the refuge, however, there are two established campgrounds along the road from San Antonio to the refuge entrance. Hotels, motels, restaurants, and gas are available in the towns of Socorro and San Antonio, respectively, 18 and 8 miles (29 and 13km) from the refuge entrance.
The Refuge is located at an elevation of 4,500 feet (1.378 meters) along the Rio Grande river between the Chupadera Mountains in the west and the San Pascual Mountains to the east. My favorite time of the year to visit is November through March. Cool days with the possibility of snow mean a good chance for wildlife activity throughout the day. Unfortunately, overnight freezing temperatures are also likely this time of year.
The summers are hot, with daytime temps regularly above 90 F (32 C), which means most wildlife will be out of sight hiding in the shade.
The beautiful and peaceful Bosque del Apache Wildlife National Reserve is surprisingly difficult to locate on a map but worth the effort, let’s keep it our secret. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Conclusion: One Last Tip
They sure had me fooled when I found out a javelina isn't a wild boar or hog. I also didn't expect to enjoy close-up time with an animal referred to as a skunk pig.
But it doesn't matter when it comes time to take its picture: Javelina makes a great subject, especially in places where hunting pressure is minimal. When you're fortunate to find a good-sized herd, you're in for photographic opportunities ranging from digging up roots to chasing one another to posing for a close-up! And, if you're lucky enough to get close enough to enjoy their musky smell, breathing through your mouth is my final tip.
Javelina, not the first subject that comes to mind for wildlife photography, but well worth the effort when you find them! Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven