LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — A javelina is causing concern in a West Valley neighborhood after it allegedly attacked a man and his dogs and charged at other residents near Dysart and Bethany Home Roads.
“I would say it probably took less than 30 seconds for the whole thing,” said Roy Watts, who was out walking his dogs, Roxanne and Georgie, early last Thursday morning.
Watts told 12News he walks his dogs every day around 4 a.m. and usually scans the area with a flashlight to watch for wildlife like coyotes. But a javelina—a species rarely seen in this part of town—caught him off guard.
“I just kept walking and then the dogs started to growl and pull,” Watts recalled. “Then this thing charged from behind the bushes and they got into a bit of a battle right on the edge of the road.”
Though Watts managed to break his dogs free, the javelina wasn’t done. It charged again while they were trying to flee.
“It was on the other side of the road, and we were running through this field right here, and it just kept chasing us across the field,” he said.
The wild animal bit Roxanne, leaving a deep gash in her chest.
“It was probably over an inch deep,” Watts said.
He also suffered injuries, including knee swelling that required him to use crutches for several days.
“Swelled up like a football and I was on crutches up until today, which was like three and a half days,” he added.
According to Arizona Game and Fish, dogs are considered natural predators by javelinas. When javelinas smell or hear dogs, they may become aggressive. The agency recommends making loud noises to scare them off.
If you encounter a javelina while walking a dog, experts suggest changing direction immediately.
“If they can spot it early enough, just try to avoid it as much as possible,” Watts advised.
Watts is grateful the injuries weren’t worse and hopes the javelina is relocated before another encounter happens.
12News reached out to Arizona Game and Fish for an update, but officials had not yet responded as of Sunday.
For more wildlife safety tips, visit the official Arizona Game and Fish Department website.
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