West Valley Man Urges Javelina Relocation Following Harrowing Attack

LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — A javelina has been roaming the West Valley neighborhood, creating concern among residents. Reports indicate that the wild animal attacked a man while he was walking his dogs, as well as charging at others in the vicinity.

Roy Watts recounted the incident, describing it as a swift encounter. He regularly walks his dogs, Roxanne and Georgie, around 4 a.m. and noted that while he usually expects to see local wildlife, javelinas are an unusual sight.

On a recent Thursday morning, Watts was caught off guard when the dogs began to growl. “They started to pull, and then this thing charged from behind the bushes,” he recalled. The startled dogs and the javelina briefly engaged in a struggle.

Despite his efforts to separate them, the javelina pursued them again. “It was on the other side of the road, and we were running through this field… it just kept chasing us,” Watts stated.

During the chase, the javelina inflicted a serious bite on Roxanne, resulting in a significant wound. “It was probably over an inch deep,” Watts noted. He also sustained injuries to his knees as he was knocked over during the chaos, requiring crutches for several days.

According to Arizona Game and Fish, javelinas may act aggressively when they hear or smell dogs, given the latter are considered natural predators. The agency advises residents to make noise to deter any aggressive wildlife. If spotted, they recommend turning back to avoid confrontation.

Watts expressed gratitude that his dogs were not more seriously injured and is advocating for the javelina’s relocation to prevent future attacks. 12News reached out to Arizona Game and Fish for additional comments but had not received a response by Sunday.