Peccary Parade

Seeking the sun on Tortugas's west side

It was 28F when Becca and I started off this morning, and we made a beeline away from the shadow of Tortugas Mountain in order to reach sunlight as quickly as possible.  We then proceeded to do a long hike into the outback where we found several sets of Javelina (Peccary) tracks.  Becca didn't seem particularly interested in them so I didn't think we would encounter any of the critters; but when we crested a high hill a moment later we spotted a small herd (maybe six or seven individuals) browsing in the valley below us.  The wind was in our face so the animals didn't pick up our scent, and we were able to stand watching them for ten or fifteen minutes before a large male sensed our presence and ran away, causing the others to flee as well.  We have sighted Javelinas at least three times recently, which is a huge surprise because we hadn't seen any here in the Chihuahuan Desert for decades.

Heading away from the mountain

On the horizon the Florida Mountains near Deming, New Mexico

Not a volcano, but the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas

On alert

Organ Mountains over the flank of Tortugas

Nearly as far west as we're going

Torrey Yucca and the frosty Organ Mountains

Javelina (Peccary) tracks in an arroyo

Village of Talavera at the base of the Organ Mountains

First sighting of a Collared Peccary

Note the "collar" of the Collared Peccary

Several Javelina grazing together

This one resembles a teddy bear

Large male (note the size of the head)

Ladderback Woodpecker looking right at us

The yucca at far left . . .

. . . appears in this photo

The best hiking companion ever