The region’s mix of prairie and dense brush made the habitat a jaguar’s paradise.
FILE - This Dec. 1, 2016 file image from video provided by Fort Huachuca shows a wild jaguar in southern Arizona. Environmental groups and scientists with two universities are suggesting that U.S. wildlife managers consider reintroducing jaguars to the American Southwest.
In a recently published paper, they say habitat destruction, highways and existing segments of the border wall mean that natural reestablishment of the large cats north of the U.S.-Mexico boundary would be unlikely over the next century without human intervention.Once native to the state, jaguars haven’t been spotted in Texas in almost 80 years. But the species is still prevalent in Mexico, and some Texans hope for their return.You ask, we investigate. Follow the investigations and see what our journalists uncover in North Texas and across the state. Although documented in most regions of the state, jaguar sightings occurred most often in South Texas, according to conservation nonprofitOne of the earliest killings occurred in 1825 in modern-day Nueces County. Considered a threat to livestock, many jaguars faced hunters and habitat loss due to farm and urban development during the next century. Despite their disappearance from Texas, biologists estimate over 5,000 jaguars live in Mexico and have been repeatedly spotted on cameras in Arizona.Urban development and the construction of the border wall made migrating back to Texas difficult for jaguars. According to Grow Jungles, jaguar sightings near the Texas border encouraged discussions around reintroducing the animal to wildlife refuges.Jaguars aren’t the only feline species native to Texas. Bobcats, mountain lions, margays, jaguarundi, ocelots and feral domestic cats have all called the state home at one point, Jaguarundi, similar to domestic cats in size but with longer tails, also disappeared from Texas. However, according to San Antonio news siteTo restore the habitat for jaguarundis and ocelots, Texans plant native shrubs in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the Parks and Wildlife service said.discusses how reintroduction of ocelots and other animals could benefit the state. However, available land remains a top challenge: “In Texas alone, there are several federally endangered wildlife species beyond ocelots whose recovery requires reintroductions that will likely occur on privately owned lands given the land ownership makeup of Texas.”Julia is a breaking news reporter with the Dallas Morning News, currently focused on covering weather and climate. She is a Louisiana native and a graduate of the University of Mississippi where she studied journalism and public policy. She previously covered education for Mississippi Today in Jackson, Miss.Former Dallas County judge testifies in misconduct trial, denies allegations
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