The Gulf Coast Jaguarundi is a small cat, slightly larger than the average domestic house cat, with an elongated tail and body, short legs, and a face that resembles a weasel. These adorable creatures are usually a black-brown-gray or red-yellow-chestnut color combination, though different color kittens are often found in the same litter. They usually inhabit forest and bush, though they do not depend on a specific forest habitat. Their habitats usually overlap with ocelot's habitat, though these two species are active at different times of the day and therefore do not usually compete with each other.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Jaguarondi_portrait.jpg
Jaguarundis primarily eat rodents, small reptiles, ground feeding birds, and a small amount of vegetation. Sometimes they feed on larger prey such as rabbits, opossums, or fish. They have not been found to be a significant threat to domestic animals. Their territories range from 2.6 to 38.6 square miles, and they are usually solitary creatures, except when mating or raising young.
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/FINAL%20Gulf%20Coast%20Jaguarundi%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf
This particular sub-species of Jaguarundi, the Puma yagouaroundi cacomitli,
originally lived throughout Southern Texas and Eastern Mexico. However, the last confirmed sighting of the Jaguarundi in the US was in 1986. It is now solely found in regions of Mexico, where there is a known population about 130 miles south of the US border. The red color on the map above depicts where these cats are now found. There is little information about population size and trends as no consistent studies have been conducted over the range of this subspecies within Mexico. This particular subspecies of Jaguarundi was listed as an endangered species on July 14th, 1976.
The main cause of this species endangerment is habitat loss, destruction, and fragmentation. The Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texan used to be an extensive habitat for the Jaguarundi, but 95% of useful habitat has been converted into agriculture and urban development. There has been no critical habitat designated for this species, and the only habitat that remain is mostly on private land. US border control operations also disturbs the jaguarundi habitat through fragmentation and degradation by building roads, fences, and using vehicles. Because this species is now primarily found in Mexico, there is little the United States can do because they have no authority there. We can only send monetary support and advances in technology to support their efforts to protect this species.
Recovery Plan
- Summarize what is known about species and populations
- Identify what is not known, and what general actions can be taken to promote long-term conservation
- Application of existing regulations
- Monitor recovery and revise recovery tasks as new information becomes available
- Public education and outreach
- Focus on actions that can be taken in Texas
- Captive breeding if populations become too low
- Restore sufficient habitat and connectivity to support populations and genetic diversity
- Reduce effects of human population growth and development in habitat
- Develop incentives for landowners to preserve habitat
Sources:
http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A05H
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/FINAL%20Gulf%20Coast%20Jaguarundi%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf
I've heard from at least two people that they've seen one in the Florida panhandle, on the Eglin AFB, test range
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