This Arizona Golf Course Is Being Destroyed By a Herd of Wild Javelinas

Chris Mench
·2 min read
9

Golf course vandalism is nothing new, but it's not every day that the culprit is a herd of wild animals. But while some are mourning the carnage, others say it's the golf course that's out of place.

It's a hot debate down in Arizona, where the Sedona-area course Seven Canyons Golf Club is being reclaimed by a herd of boar-like animals called javelinas. Superintendent Em Casey shared footage of the damage on X (formerly Twitter), which has now gone viral, showing torn up turf and destroyed greens.

Javelinas, also known as collared peccaries, resemble a boar or a pig, but are a separate species of animal. They are found throughout South and Central America, as well as U.S. states like Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

In Arizona, the hog-like creatures are classified as a big game species. As such, killing, trapping, or otherwise removing them is against the law.

Where that leaves the crew at Seven Canyons Golf Club is unclear. But the video of their damage to the course has already sparked a range of opinions online. Casey's video received more than 12 million views on X, with some commenters giving tips for warding them off while.

Others, however, stopped by to express their disdain for golf, especially in the desert. Some noted that the course sits in a wilderness area, where javelinas might be expected to be a nuisance. Many have taken the side of the javelinas, calling out the golf course for seemingly expecting the native animals to be removed in service of its business.

In the meantime, golfers beware. Your next tee-off could find you face to face with some unexpected guests.

This story has been updated with commentary on the role of the golf course in the local ecosystem.