A Contribution on the Life History of the Collared Peccary in Arizona

Abstract

The collared peccary, Pecari tajacu sonoriensis (Mearns) is a common inhabitant of central and southeastern Arizona. It is found from about 2,000 feet above sea level in the Sonoran desert of southeastern Arizona to an altitude of over 6,500 feet above sea level in the higher ranges (Knipe, 1957). Between September, 1955 and January, 1957, I conducted research on the techniques of trapping, tagging, and transplanting the collared peccary. While carrying out this research work miscellaneous information on the life history of the collared peccary was obtained. Study area.-Most of the field work was conducted in the Tucson Mountains, located about six miles west of Tucson in Pima County, Arizona. Elevations range from about 2,200 feet above sea level at the lower elevations to 4,677 feet above sea level on Wasson Peak, the highest point in the Tucson range. The terrain is rugged in the higher elevations around 3,000 feet above sea level with numerous rocky outcrops scattered throughout the higher peaks. Below the foothills, the terrain levels out into sandy plains. Climatic conditions in the study area consist of high temperature, high evaporation, and low annual rainfall. The greater part of the annual precipitation usually comes as summer thunderstorms which are of short duration. The winter rains, unlike the sudden summer downpours, may last several hours with a slow-soaking precipitation that percolates into the soil and is retained (U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1941). The study area lies wholly within the Sonoran Desert (Shreve, 1951). The principle feature of this area is the great variety of cacti which grow in association with the creosote-bush (Larrea tridentata), bur-sage (Franseria deltoidea), mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), palo verde (Cercidium microphyllum), and ironwood (Olneya tesota). Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) is abundant throughout most of the area and in places forms dense stands. Cholla and prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) are less striking but even more abundant than saguaro. The hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus sp.), barrel cactus (Ferocactus Wislizeni), and fishhook cactus (Mammillaria sp.) are