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Evidence of Resident Jaguars in the Southwestern United States: Implications for Conservation

This study presents evidence of resident jaguars in Arizona and New Mexico, challenging assumptions about their habitat range. Data confirms their presence and residency, highlighting conservation challenges and the importance of habitat preservation for this small population.

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Evidence of Resident Jaguars in the Southwestern United States: Implications for Conservation

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  1. EVIDENCE OF RESIDENT JAGUARS (PANTHERA ONCA) IN THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION Emil B. McCain* and Jack L. Childs Meagan Forbes

  2. Introduction • Typically reside in rainforests or Central and South America • Little is known about the Northern desert environment range of Jaguars • Jaguar habitat has shrunk to 46% of its historical range

  3. 61 records in Arizona and New Mexico from 1880-1995. • Formally listed with USFW 1997 • Jaguar killed in AZ 1986 • Jaguar photographed in SE AZ March 1996 • A different jaguar photographed in SC AZ • Feb 2006 another jaguar photographed in NM FIG. 1.- Records with confirmed physical evidence of jaguars (Pantheraonca) from Arizona and New Mexico, 1900-2006 (n= 64).

  4. Arizona and New Mexico Jaguar Conservation Team (JAG) Formed by state and federal wildlife and land management agencies

  5. Methods & Materials • Study area conducted in mountain ranges of Southern AZ, around areas where historic sightings were recorded • This region includes Madrean evergreen woodland and simidesert scrub grassland • Methods were based on a tiger sampling technique (Pantheratigris- Karanth 1995; Karanth and Nicholas 1998; Karanth et al. 2004) • Cameras equipped with infrared motion sensors, were placed along traveled paths • Second camera was placed across from successful camera traps for identification • Photos were stamped with time to establish time categories

  6. Track Surveys

  7. Spot Identification

  8. Methods & Materials • Photos and tracks were recorded using GPS and imported into ARC GIS for analysis of areas of use. • All methods were approved by Humboldt State Institutional Animal Care and Use committee • All permits were attained

  9. Results • 69 photos, 5 videos, 28 sets of jaguar tracks and a calf killed by a jaguar • 2 males photographed who frequented the camera sites • Sightings temporally clumped, but not suggesting seasonal movements

  10. Macho A • Determined to be 3-5 yrs in 2001 • Estimated by body size by JAG • 3 right side photographs in 2001-2004

  11. Macho B • Same individual as the Baboquivari Mountains Jaguar photographed in 1996 • Seen most frequently • Showed behaviors consistent with marking of territory

  12. Discussion • Data confirms presence of resident jaguars in the US • Video of scent marking further confirms residency and suggests presence of competing males • None of the photographed jaguars were juvenile transients • Macho B was photographed in the US over an 11 year span • Study suggests that these jaguars are part of a largely distributed, small population in the species most northern range

  13. Conclusions Drawn • Habitat availability is crucial to survival of the northern territory population’s survival • Fence around the border would be detrimental to such a small population • Threats include: direct killing, AZ fast growing human population, housing development, open-pit mines • Need for more research

  14. Conservation Biology • More susceptible to being endangered because: Larger species, large home range, small population • Jaguars were thought to be extirpated • Gathered research from public to get the species federally listed

  15. Questions?

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