Females and males of all ages are usually found in a group, and the females usually dominate males. Each group has a home range of 0.5 to 8 sq km. Peccaries use their dorsal scent glands as a means of territorial marking, and this also seems to identify group members. Large active herds produce a constant racket of bellowing, screaming, and loud tooth-clacking, which can be heard for several hundred meters. On the other hand, small groups seem to stay quiet.
Peccaries travel long distances and their presence in a certain area is episodic and unpredictable.
Habitat Peccaries live in a variety of habitats, including desert scrub, arid woodland, and rain forest. Thickets, limestone caves, and large boulders serve as shelters. They are most active during the night or in the cooler hours of the day and tend to stay close to their place of birth. Their speed, agility, and group defense are comparable to dogs, coyotes, and even bobcats. In certain areas peccaries provide a valuable hide for local hunters.