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Arizona woman bit by javelina had been feeding the animal table scraps, officials say

Arizona Game and Fish tweeted Monday the woman, who they referred to as a "habitual feeder of javelina," was taken to urgent care and released.

TUCSON, Ariz. — The word is in all caps on the Arizona Game and Fish Department's website: "people should NEVER feed javelina." A Tucson woman found out why Sunday evening when she was bitten by the animal, according to AZGFD.

Arizona Game and Fish tweeted Monday the woman, who they referred to as a "habitual feeder of javelina," was taken to urgent care and released. The agency said she was feeding the animal table scraps.

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According to the agency's website, javelina will usually visit homes in search of food, water or shelter.

"Javelina usually cause only minor problems for people by surprising them or eating a few plants," the department's website says. But feeding them can cause javelina to become regular visitors causing problems for the neighborhood or even the animals themselves.

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"Javelina occasionally bite humans, but incidents of bites are almost always associated with people providing the javelina with food," the Arizona Game and Fish website says.

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A javelina's bite, according to Game and Fish, can cause a serious injury. The department said it recommended rabies shots for the woman.

The department included a reminder in its tweet that feeding wildlife in Pinal, Pima and Maricopa counties is illegal. If you see anyone doing so you can report them by calling 800-352-0700.

For more information on how to discourage javelina from your property, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department's website.

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