Jaguarundis are small, elusive wild cats that historically roamed parts of Arizona. If you’ve wondered whether these cats still inhabit the desert landscape, you’re not alone. Here’s a quick answer before we dive in: While jaguarundis disappeared from Arizona decades ago, there are some signs they may be returning to parts of their former range.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the mysterious history of jaguarundis in Arizona. You’ll learn how habitat loss and predator control programs led to their disappearance by the 1960s. We’ll examine recent evidence that suggests jaguarundis may be reclaiming territory in southern Arizona.
And we’ll look at conservation efforts focused on understanding and protecting any possible jaguarundi populations.
A Brief History of Jaguarundis in Arizona
Once Common in Southern Arizona
Jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi), also called eyra cats, were once quite common in the grasslands and woodlands of southern Arizona. Early settlers and ranchers reported frequent sightings of these small, slim, long-tailed cats which are slightly larger than a house cat.
Their range likely extended as far north as the Mogollon Rim before habitat loss and hunting pressure caused populations to decline.
Habitat Loss and Decline
As human settlement increased in the late 1800s, jaguarundis began disappearing from parts of their former range. Extensive habitat loss occurred as forests were logged and grasslands were converted to agriculture.
At the same time, jaguarundis were often shot by ranchers and hunters who saw them as threats to livestock and game animals. By the mid-1900s, the cats were rare throughout Arizona.
Today, jaguarundis have official state endangered species status in Arizona. Most biologists considered them extirpated until a few sightings in recent years suggested they may still inhabit some remote mountainous areas.
Evidence of Return to Former Range
In the last decade, credible but unconfirmed sightings have placed possible jaguarundis in the Huachuca, Santa Rita, Patagonia, Atascosa, and Tumacacori mountain ranges of southern Arizona. These sky island habitats feature grasslands, oak woodlands, and riparian corridors similar to what the cats historically preferred.
While biologists cannot confirm breeding populations, photo evidence and multiple sightings make it seem promising that small numbers of jaguarundis may be recolonizing parts of their former range. Targeted camera traps may soon verify these returnees.
If their presence is established, protecting habitat corridors could help jaguarundis further reestablish footholds. Their stealthy nature provides hope that the eyra cat may once again hunt among Arizona’s mountains and canyons.
The Elusive Biology and Ecology of Jaguarundis
Physical Characteristics
Jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) are medium-sized wild cats that resemble weasels more than their larger feline relatives. They typically measure 30-35 inches in length, and weigh 8-20 pounds. Their fur is slender and somewhat coarse.
Jaguarundis feature elongated bodies, short legs, small flat heads, and rounded ears.
Most remarkably, these cats come in three distinct color phases: gray, red, and dark brown. Their ability to appear in three different shades is quite rare in the feline world. The melanistic phase produces very dark, almost black individuals.
Jaguarundis in Arizona tend to display the gray color phase, which allows them to blend in with the local vegetation and rocky landscapes.
Habitat Preferences
Jaguarundis occupy a diverse range of habitats across their native range in the Americas. This includes thickets, swampy forests, savannas, grasslands, and semi-desert scrublands. In Arizona specifically, they prefer areas of dense, low vegetation in rocky desert canyons and foothills.
Features like fallen trees, boulders, and small caves offer shelter and protection.
Remote public land units managed by state and federal agencies provide excellent refuge for these reclusive felines. Key examples include the Upper San Pedro River Basin, Santa Rita Mountains, Patagonia Mountains, Peloncillo Mountains, portions of Saguaro National Park, and Coronado National Forest.
Diet and Hunting Behavior
As opportunistic predators, jaguarundis prey upon a wide range of small animals, including birds, reptiles, rodents, rabbits, fish, and insects. They sometimes attack larger prey as well, such as opossums or ringtails.
Jaguarundis hunt during the day or night, aided by their keen sight, hearing, and smell.
These agile cats pursue prey on the ground or in trees, then pounce with deadly speed and accuracy. Using their sharp teeth and claws, they subdue victims with a bite to the neck or back of the skull. Interestingly, jaguarundis may occasionally feed on fruit when animal prey is scarce.
Reproduction and Lifespan
Jaguarundis are largely solitary animals that pair up temporarily to mate. After a gestation period of 70-75 days, the female gives birth to a litter of one to four kittens. The young cats begin eating solid food at about two months old, and reach adult size in under a year.
Lifespans in the wild average 8-10 years.
Very little is known about jaguarundi family units and early life development. Their secretive nature makes gathering information quite difficult. Advanced technologies like remote cameras and GPS collars should reveal more insights in coming years.
For now, these graceful cats remain somewhat mysterious.
Signs That Jaguarundis May Be Returning to Arizona
Credible Sightings in Recent Years
In the past decade, there have been several credible jaguarundi sightings in southern Arizona. In 2012, a hunter captured photos of a jaguarundi in the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson. The photos were analyzed by biologists who confirmed that the cat was indeed a jaguarundi.
There was another verified sighting in 2014 near the town of Patagonia when a resident spotted and photographed a jaguarundi crossing a road. These types of sightings indicate that jaguarundis may be recolonizing parts of their historical range in Arizona.
Appearance in Game Cameras and Trail Footage
Jaguarundis have also begun appearing in game camera photos and videos in recent years. Game cameras are motion-activated cameras that hunters and wildlife biologists use to monitor animals. Several grainy videos of jaguarundis have emerged from research sites and ranches in southern Arizona.
Additionally, in 2021 a strikingly clear video of a jaguarundi was captured by a hiker’s trail camera in the Santa Rita Mountains. The frequency of these game camera captures suggests the population is increasing. While elusive, jaguarundis seem to be returning to their old stomping grounds.
Potential Habitat in Protected Areas
Another promising sign for jaguarundis in Arizona is the availability of good habitat, especially in protected wilderness areas. Jaguarundis typically live in dense, brushy areas near water sources. Southern Arizona has several mountain ranges and wilderness areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service.
Places like the Coronado National Forest and Saguaro National Park offer remote, rugged habitat perfect for jaguarundis. If illegal hunting and trapping pressures remain minimal, these public lands could support a breeding jaguarundi population.
More research is needed, but the habitat and recent sightings are encouraging news for these rare cats.
Conservation Efforts Focused on the Jaguarundi
Protected Habitat in Coronado National Forest
The Coronado National Forest in southeastern Arizona provides important protected habitat for the endangered jaguarundi. Over 300,000 acres of this mountainous forest have been designated as wilderness areas, restricting development and human disturbance.
Wildlife officials have identified certain riparian corridors in the forest as essential for jaguarundi migration and hunting. Limiting access and maintaining the integrity of these areas has been crucial for sustaining the small jaguarundi population in Arizona.
In addition, a Forest Plan released in 2018 by the U.S. Forest Service outlined further protections for the cat’s habitat. It increased restrictions on mining and road construction in sensitive wilderness zones. Reducing development helps safeguard the jaguarundi’s reclusive nature.
As more of their habitat is left undisturbed, the chances increase that jaguarundis will continue moving back into Arizona from Mexico.
Monitoring Programs Using Camera Traps
Wildlife conservation groups have set up a network of camera traps across southern Arizona to track and study jaguarundis in their native habitat. These motion-activated cameras provide valuable data on where jaguarundis are roaming, how many cats may be in a given area, and what prey they are hunting.
The monitoring programs are also able to identify individual jaguarundis from their unique coat patterns.
According to a 2021 report by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, camera traps recorded 17 individual jaguarundis over a two year period in the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountains. This ongoing photographic surveillance enables conservationists to study population dynamics and range expansion in hopes of supporting the jaguarundi’s recovery.
Captive Breeding Programs
While habitat protection and population monitoring are crucial, biologists agree that active human intervention through captive breeding will also be needed to boost jaguarundi numbers. Working with accredited zoos and wildlife facilities, conservation groups have established captive breeding colonies of jaguarundis.
The goal is to build up jaguarundi populations until they reach sustainable levels for reintroduction into protected wilderness areas in Arizona and New Mexico. As of early 2024, there are approximately 63 jaguarundis in captive breeding programs across North America, according to data from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
With continued success increasing litter sizes, experts are hopeful jaguarundis can once again reclaim their historic native range in the U.S. Southwest. Ongoing conservation efforts focused on both protected habitat and direct human involvement will offer the best chance for the recovery of these elusive wild cats.
Conclusion
While the jaguarundi largely disappeared from Arizona decades ago, there are hopeful signs these elusive cats may be returning to parts of their historic range. Credible sightings, game camera footage, and availability of protected habitat all suggest it’s possible a few jaguarundis now inhabit areas near the Mexican border.
Conservation efforts focused on expanded monitoring and protected corridors seem critical to support any jaguarundis eking out an existence in southern Arizona. With persistence and luck, resident jaguarundis may once again become an established part of the diverse animal life in the region.
