Near Thurmont in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Collared Peccary

Pecari tajacu

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 17, 2026

1. Collared Peccary Marker

Inscription.
Home of the Peccary
Collared Peccaries are found from northern Argentina in South America, throughout Central America, and have spread into southern Arizona, New Mexico and Texas in the United States.

Characteristics
Collared Peccaries have short, straight tusks that fit together tightly enough to hone each other down with every jaw movement. This razor sharpness gives this species its common name: Javelina. A javelin is a lightweight, tip-shaped spear.

Behavior
This species is vocal; several calls have been classified into three categories: aggressive, submissive, and alert.

Food Habits
Peccaries are primarily herbivorous and have complex stomachs for digesting coarsely-chewed food. In its southern range, this species eats a variety of foods, including roots, bulbs, fungi, and nuts, in addition to fruits and occasional eggs, carrion, snakes, fish and frogs.

Social Structure Collared Peccaries have very close social relationships. They live in herds of 5 to 15 that are notably cohesive; members eat, sleep and forage together. Conservation Status
The main predators of Collared Peccaries are humans,

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coyotes, pumas, jaguars and bobcats. For centuries, young Peccaries have been captured and kept as domestic pets. In Peru, 10,000 skins have been exported annually for decades. In Texas, more than 20,000 individuals are shot during the hunting season. Populations are fairly resilient due to adaptability, although subspecies in the tropics are threatened by rainforest destruction.

Erected by Catoctin Wildlife Preserve.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Anthropology & Archaeology • Environment • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 39° 35.389′ N, 77° 25.725′ W. Marker is near Thurmont, Maryland, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Catoctin Furnace Road 0.6 miles north of Kellys Store Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13019E Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont MD 21788, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 17, 2026

2. Collared Peccary Marker

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: American Alligator (within shouting distance of this marker); The North American Bison (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nigerian Dwarf and African Pygmy Goats (about 500 feet away); Jaguar (about 500 feet away); Sacred Ibis (about 600 feet away); Koi (about 600 feet away); Lucky Bird's Aviary (about 700 feet away); Sun Bear (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thurmont.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 17, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.