Javelinas tore up an Arizona golf course. Now some are arguing about its water use

A recent viral video showing parts of a golf course in Sedona, Arizona being destroyed by javelinas spurred mixed reactions on social media with some users worried about the damages and others denouncing a misallocation of resources going into the maintenance of golf courses in an increasingly drying state.

The video was originally posted on Sunday on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, by Em Casey, assistant superintendent at Seven Canyons Golf Club. The video had gathered nearly 29 million views, 4,700 likes, nearly 8,000 reposts, and 2,000 comments as of Wednesday afternoon.

The video showed multiple grass areas across the golf course dug out and jumbled in dirt. Casey, who posted the video, explained the damage was likely caused by javelinas. Although javelinas look like wild pigs, the 40- to 60-pound creatures are actually members of the peccary family, a group of hoofed mammals originating from South America and common in central and southern Arizona.

Some users on the platform posted comments in support of the golf course staff with some of them asking for pictures of the golf course after the damaged areas were fixed.

"Sorry man, I know the feeling... What are they (javelinas) digging after??," one person commented.

'Not the first time'

Casey, who posted the video, explained the javelinas were likely looking for earthworms. Dave Bisbee, general manager at the golf course, told The Arizona Republic the issue was likely triggered by the dry weather pattern that hit the state in recent months, and he explained the situation was not new.

"It's not the first time this has happened, it's certainly the first time we've taken any video and it's gone viral," Bisbee said. "As the weather that's supposed to move in here kinda gets colder and drives the worms down, we'll see them (javelinas) stop looking for worms."

Other comments in the video criticized the amount of water needed to grow green grass in golf courses and claimed the course was built in a space that was originally a habitat for javelinas. Altogether, these comments had gathered over 58,000 likes as of Wednesday.

"Solution: stop wasting precious resources on golf courses," a comment with over 19,000 likes read.

"Golf course land protection is an important issue, said no one," another user posted.

Course workers are 'stewards of the land' superintendent says

Bisbee said claims on social media were spreading an inaccurate perspective. According to him, the golf course is conscious about the amount of water it uses and is "a benefit to the wildlife" that surrounds it and "a benefit to the community."

"Golf courses use less than 2% of all the water in Arizona. We, here, have our own wells and our own wastewater treatment plant; we use and recycle our water, so we don't use any public water, city water, or anything like that; and we only have 53 acres of turf, most golf courses are 90 to 120 acres," Bisbee said. "So, we are very, very much stewards of the land and protect those resources."

Bisbee said staff members at the golf course were working to put the dirt back in place and cover the dug-out patches. The damaged parts were expected to be fully fixed within the next month, he added.

The golf course was not expected to have any closed or restricted areas because of the damaged grass.

Reporter Ellie Willard contributed to this report.