Did you know that Arizona has a state mammal?
Me neither! But it does: The ringtail, which I don't think I've ever seen. It's nocturnal, so maybe that's why. Evidently it's related to the raccoon. There could be worse relatives. But better ones, too.
Anyway, aren't you at least a little surprised that the state mammal isn't the javelina? (We will not entertain any notions of the coyote as the state anything, other than a pest. I don't care how much you like wildlife. That's not going to happen.)
I would have put my money on the javelina. Not because I like them so much. I don't have strong feelings one way or another, probably because I have never seen one in my backyard. They are perhaps not the most popular animal in the state, or country, or world.
And yet. Children's books are written about them, including "Three Little Javelinas" and "Josefina Havalina." So somebody likes them. And in their pig-like way, they are kind of cute. (Cuter than a coyote.)
In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we answer the question: Is the javelina Arizona's wild pig?
Here's a hint: Another children's book about javelinas is called "Don't Call Me Pig! A Javelina Story."
We talked to David Mizajewski, a naturalist and ambassador with the National Wildlife Federation, as well as a TV personality, all about javelinas. And I mean all about them. Mizajewski really knows his stuff, and it was a treat to talk with him. Long story short: No matter how cute you may think javelinas maybe (and some people do think that), don't forget, they put the "wild" in wild animal.
Listen to the episode
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Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Subscribe to the weekly Watchlist newsletter.
This episode was produced by Amanda Luberto and Tori Weiss. You can reach Amanda at amanda.luberto@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @amandaluberto. Reach Tori at tkweiss@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Is the javelina Arizona's wild pig? Nope. Here's why
