A Little Love For the Javelina: After my story about the javelina attack last month I want to provide additional information about these creatures so you will have a better understanding of them.

The old bug guy has been around a long time and I can assure you that the attack by a rabid javelin was truly an aberration. While they're certainly not cute little fellas that you want to hug, by no means are they aggressive by nature. As a matter of fact, they generally avoid encounters with humans. Javelina defend themselves, however, and can become dangerous when cornered or otherwise frightened.

Javelina are in the peccary family of hoofed mammals that originated in South America and are now indigenous to our area. The following describes their size, basic traits, and general  patterns of behavior: 

• Weigh from 40 - 60 lbs
• Stand 19" tall
• Very poor eyesight and may appear to be charging when actually trying to escape
• Keen sense of smell
• Travel in washes and areas with dense vegetation
• Roll in water and mud to cool off
• Most active at night  

What Attracts Javelina? Their diet primarily consists of plants, e.g., cacti, succulent bulbs, tubers, seeds, beans... and garbage. Javelina need water to drink and like to loaf in cool, moist soil. Not surprisingly, they can scatter garbage while causing significant damage to landscaping and drip systems while seeking food, drinking water, and cool mud.

They prefer sleeping in caves and consider crawl space under homes as good alternatives. Access to crawl space is typically accomplished by digging that can cause damage.

How to Coexist With Javelina: Below I've listed some tips for coexisting with these critters while avoiding and minimizing any unpleasant experiences in the process.

• Never feed them - they're not cute fuzzy little animals to pet and cuddle
• Feed your pets indoors or immediately remove leftover food from outdoors
• Securely store all garbage
• Keep birdseed and water off the ground out of their reach
• Landscape using natural vegetation instead of ornamental plants that javelin enjoy
• Plant toxic bulbs, e.g., iris instead of tasty bulbs, e.g., tulips
• Use poultry wire at or just below the soil surface to protect plant beds from digging
• Install a fence, preferably electric, or wall around the area(s) you want protected
• Pick up fruit as soon as it falls from a tree
• Trim plants that could provide hiding cover
• Securely close all openings to spaces under your home and other structures on the property so javelina cannot gain access 
• Don't leave dogs tied up where javelina can get to them
• Keep dogs on a leash when outdoors because javelina view them as a threat and will defend themselves

Encountering Javelina: While outdoors there's always the possibility of seeing javelina and to be safe I recommend following the simple, common sense tips suggested below:

• Avoid going near javelina
• Scare them off by making loud noises, throwing small rocks, or spraying water from a garden hose
• If the critter is confined, open a gate and vacate the area until it leaves the premises
• If you're walking your dog turn and go the opposite direction
• If the javelina is aggressive or confined and won't leave call the Arizona Game and Fish Department at 602.789.3201

The Pain and Expense of a Scorpion Sting: I know many of you are tired of me talking about scorpions, preventive actions, etc., and think that they only sting other folks. Believe me, these nasty fellas aren't particular about who they sting and the results are never pleasant. The following is a true story that local news has recently aired on TV and radio about a 52 year-old woman from Ahwatukee who was stung in the stomach by a scorpion.

Within an hour of the sting she experienced a mild tingling sensation that quickly worsened along with throat tightness, blurry vision, darting eyes and tense muscles. She was unable to walk and had difficulty breathing. With a friend's help she called Poison Control who advised going to a hospital that had scorpion anti-venom.

She went to the ER at Chandler Regional Hospital where a physician recommended the anti-venom Anascorp, assuring that it would quickly relieve her symptoms. After receiving two doses her symptoms subsided and she was released in approximately three hours. Several weeks later she received a bill for $83,046 as Chandler Regional, owned by Dignity Health, charged her $39,652 per dose.

The anti-venom is made in Mexico and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It's readily available at pharmacies in Mexico and cost around $100 per dose. After receiving a ton of negative press and airtime the hospital agreed to reduce the amount but details are not available.

Contacting Us: As I mentioned last month you will receive much faster response by sending a text message to your technician instead of calling our office. Below find their names and cell numbers:

Bret Ward             602.550.7373

Jeremy Cole          480.205.7561

John Danchisko    480.570.4134

Austin Wolf          480.392.3909

Mike Ward            480.250.3096

Looks like our long hot summer is finally breaking so enjoy the cooler fall weather.