KENS 5 News Director Jack Acosta spotted the large black animal while out for a hike Tuesday morning.
SAN ANTONIO — A heated debate was sparked on social media when KENS 5 shared a video of an unidentified large black animal seen on the northwest side of San Antonio.
KENS 5 News Director Jack Acosta spotted the animal while out for a hike at Friedrich Main Loop early Tuesday morning. He said the animal moved so quickly it was hard to identify what it could have been. He ran further up the trail hoping to see it from a different perspective, but lost track of it in the process.
Our viewers are also undecided. Some said it has to be a bear while others are convinced it was a javelina.
“Is that a Black Bear or a Hog?” Kevin Cmielewski asked.
Good question! And one that Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPW) has now cleared up.
“This animal is a javelina, an organism that resembles a hog in appearance but is not actually related to them,” said Joseph Plappert, an urban wildlife biologist with TPW.
Javelinas, Plappert added, tend to be smaller with a less-distinct tail compared to hogs. They also have a dark coat with grey specks, and a clear, white “collar” around their shoulders that help distinguish them.
“Unlike hogs, javelinas are native to North America and common throughout South Texas,” Plappert said. “They are classified as a game animal in Texas, so their take is prohibited outside of regular season, and a hunter is limited to two javelinas per license year.”
Before TPW provided the clarity, some KENS 5 viewers were convinced they see something else.
“That’s 100% a bear,” said Jeff Vexler.
“I already see today’s breaking news: Man attacked by black bear in San Antonio,” added Luis Capeles. “Because you know there’re some out there who think they can wrestle the bear for their Instagram likes. Can’t wait!”
“That’s a bear, not a javelina… you can tell by the way it moves,” said Ivan Almeida.
Others still knew what the animal turned out to be, including Linda Johnson.
“That’s not a bear. If you zoom in, you can tell it is a huge javelina,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to go face to face with that.”
Read more comments and join in the conversation here.
According to TPW, hogs and bears can look very similar. And both are in South Texas.
So how can you identify a bear?
“The black bear is a protected and rare species in the state of Texas. Bears are stocky, large animals, and adults reach a length of 5 to 6 feet, height at the shoulder of 2 to 3 feet, and weigh 90-400 pounds or more, depending on food resources,” said TPW. “Although called a “black” bear, colors can range from black to the occasional cinnamon brown. Front claws are generally longer than hind claws. The fur is long and coarse.”
Texas Parks and Wildlife also shares some tips on what to do if you see a bear:
- Never approach it.
- Bears are normally shy and not aggressive to humans.
- If a bear regularly visits your deer stand, scare it with rocks, a slingshot or air horn.
- If you encounter a bear at close range, talk in a calm manner while backing away slowly. Do not make direct eye contact.
- DO NOT RUN! This can trigger a bear’s chase instinct.
- If a bear approaches you, stand your ground and raise your arms, backpack or jacket to appear larger. Yell at the bear to scare it off.
- If attacked, fight back aggressively with anything available. Let the bear know you are not easy prey. Don’t play dead.
On the other hand, the javelina has a piglike snout and a stout little body, but these characteristics are not enough to make it a member of the true pig family. An adult javelina can reach a weight of 55 pounds, stand 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder, and grow to a length of three feet.
“Despite their reputation, javelinas are not usually aggressive toward humans and normally retreat unless cornered or startled,” said TPW.