Rescuing orphaned baby javelinas

PHOENIX - A valley wildlife rescue agency is caring for an abundance of abandoned baby javelinas. The cold weather could be partly to blame. Many of the babies have been found on the side of the road on their own. They're now getting some assistance from the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center.

Workers at the center say one javelina was found in Prescott, with the body of the mother was laying by its side. The other was found in Payson, and both of them still had their umbilical cords attached.

The center spokesperson Kim Carr says they have been handfeeding the baby using syringes, and their diet is specialized. She says the most important thing is get them hydrated. They typically arrive at the center dehydrated and that coan be life-threatening.

Carr says the babies are taken outside and introduced to the rest of the rescue until a herd is formed. A group of eight or 10 javelina then are able to become family. Carr says the center is the only place in Arizona that is able to form herds in this manner, so Arizona Game and Fish regularly works wiht the agency to help this kind of abandoned wildlife.