

The peccary, often called javelina, is a uniqwe, piglike mammal occurrins only in States bordering Mexico. In the 

 United States, it is most abundant in Arizona. The Arizona Unit has made a monographic study of the species. 

 (Photo by J. B. Elder) 



Three activ^e hibernating dens have been located, 

 and grizzlies have been tracked by radio to these 

 dens. One bear liibernated alone, one hibernated 

 witli a cub, and one liibernated with three year- 

 lings. The probable den-site areas of three other 

 grizzlies were determined by radio tracking. 



JaveUna management based on research. — Since 

 1956, tiie Arizona Unit has conducted research 

 on javelina, (lie unique game animal found only 

 in States bordering Mexico. 



The popular belief that the javelina has a low 

 reproductive capacity has l>ecn disproved. I^nlike 

 deer and many other animals having restricted 

 cycles with long periods of breeding inactivity, 

 peccary breed throughout the year. Tiiis means 

 that, in the event of juvenile loss or other repro- 

 ductive failure, the female can breed again almost 

 immediately. Thtis, the productivity rate in 

 javelina is the higiiest, of any large game animal 



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in Arizona. Tlie normal litter size is two, and 

 tliey normally breed when about 1 year of age. 

 The gestation period is about 145 days. 



Rahh'it behavior. — Social beliavior in confined 

 populations of cottontails and swamp rabbits was 

 studied at the Missouri Unit. Experimental ani- 

 mals of both species were confined separately. 



The swamp rabbit population showed two forms 

 of social organization: (1) a linear dominance 

 hierarchy among males iuid mutual tolerance 

 among females, and (2) organization into two 

 breeding groups. Cottontails showed a similar 

 hierarchy among tlie males, and there was evidence 

 of a female hieraixihy. Male hierarchies were sta- 

 ble and tended to be reestablished quickly if 

 disturbed. 



In general, behavior of tlie two spe-cies was sim- 

 ilar, but tiiere were some important ditferenccs. 

 Swamp rabbits displayed a fonn of territoriality: 



