TERRY COLVIN: U.S Jaguars

Following our recent posting on the jaguarundi in Florida Terry Colvin wrote:

Jon,

The jaguarundi is a small cat indeed.

While living in Arizona, 1980-2008, exclusive of three years in Panama, 1981-1984, I was surprised to learn that jaguars were roaming out of Mexico and foraging into southern Arizona as far north as Tucson. This is well documented by trip cameras and visual observations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/us/in-arizona-rare-sightings-of-ocelots-and-jaguars.html

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/jaguar_management.shtml

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Return_of_the_Jaguar.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/11/jaguar-spotted-southern-arizona-macho-b.html

http://www.livescience.com/5316-rare-jaguars-spotted-arizona-mexico.html

I am reminded of the big cat sighting that Bob Mantz and I had in October 2003. No physical evidence was collected and no camera was allowed on this classified radio test. It happened on the East Range at Fort Huachuca, Arizona near the towns of Sierra Vista and Tombstone. Bob and I were convinced this was a black mountain lion. Yes, I know such has never been proven to exist.

Terry

















It wasn't until I plundered wikipedia for this picture that I discovered that the Arizona jaguar is actually a separate species P. onca. arizonensis..








http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar