Food Habits of the Collared Peccary on South Texas Rangelands

Abstract

The food habits of the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) were determined from three locations in south Texas. From September 1976 through August 1978, peccaries' food preferences on the Zachry Ranch in Jim Hogg and Zapata Counties were 74.7% cacti, 15.3% woody plants, 5.1% forbs, 2.3% grasses, 2.3% unknown plants, and 0.3% animal matter. Pricklypear pads comprised the bulk of the diet from October through March, whereas pricklypear fruit and mesquite pods were the most important foods from April through September. During the fall and early winter period, peccaries' food preferences were determined on the Gonzalez Ranch in Starr County and the Yturria Ranch in Kenedy and Willacy Counties. Food preferences on the Gonzalez Ranch were 81.5% cacti, 13.6% forbs, 2.0% woody plants, 0.6% grasses, 2.3% unknown plants, and 0.1% animal matter, whereas food preferences on the Yturria Ranch were 48.1% forbs, 32.5% cacti, 8.3% woody plants, 5.7% grasses, 5.3% unknown plants, and 0.1% animal matter. Pricklypear had a relatively low density on the Yturria Ranch in comparison with higher densities on the Zachry and Gonzalez Ranches. This study indicated that pricklypear was the preferred food of peccaries in south Texas, but in areas of low pricklypear density, forbs are highly utilized.