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Redalyc.Neotropical Cats in Southeast Arizona and Surrounding Areas: Past and Present Status of Jaguars, Ocelots and Jaguarundis

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Redalyc.Neotropical Cats in Southeast Arizona and Surrounding Areas: Past and Present Status of Jaguars, Ocelots and Jaguarundis Mastozoología Neotropical ISSN: 0327-9383 [email protected] Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Argentina Grigione, Melissa; Scoville, Alison; Scoville, Gerald; Crooks, Kevin Neotropical cats in southeast Arizona and Surrounding areas: past and present status Of jaguars, ocelots and jaguarundis Mastozoología Neotropical, vol. 14, núm. 2, julio-diciembre, 2007, pp. 189-199 Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Tucumán, Argentina Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=45714204 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Mastozoología Neotropical, 14(2):189-199, Mendoza, 2007 ISSN 0327-9383 ©SAREM, 2007 Versión on-line ISSN 1666-0536 www.sarem.org.ar NEOTROPICAL CATS IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA AND SURROUNDING AREAS: PAST AND PRESENT STATUS OF JAGUARS, OCELOTS AND JAGUARUNDIS Melissa Grigione1, Alison Scoville2, Gerald Scoville2, and Kevin Crooks3 1 Dept of Biology, Grad program in Env Science, Pace University, 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570 <[email protected]>. 2 Biology Department, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305. 3 Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, 115 Wagar, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523. ABSTRACT: There are three species of neotropical cats for which the northern limit of their distribution reaches the border region of the U.S. and Mexico: the jaguar (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), and jaguarundi (Herpailurus yaguarondi). Due to their low population densities, small total numbers, and secretive habits, all three species are diffi- cult to observe. To ensure long-term survival for neotropical cats in the region, it is impera- tive to identify current distribution and status in the northern limits of their range. We assessed the status of three rare neotropical felids, the jaguar (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), and jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaruni), in the Chiricahua and Peloncillo Mountains of southeastern Arizona where recent sightings of all three species have taken place. Study techniques included interviews and collection of unpublished and published species-sighting records, which yielded data on all three carnivores. Although jaguars and ocelots historically have occupied southeastern Arizona, we found no recent evidence of a resident, reproducing population. Recommendations are made regarding what measures are necessary to promote neotropical cat conservation in this region. RESUMEN: Gatos neotropicales en el sudeste de Arizona y alrededores: estatus pasado y presente de los jaguares, ocelotes y yaguarundíes. Existen tres especies de gatos neotropicales para los cuales el norte de su distribución alcanza la frontera entre Estados Unidos de Norteamérica y México: el jaguar (Panthera onca), el ocelote (Leopardus pardalis), y el yaguarundí (Herpailurus yaguarondi). Debido a sus bajas densidades poblacionales, su bajo número total de individuos, y sus hábitos sigilosos, estas especies son difíciles de observar. Para asegurar su supervivencia a largo plazo en la región, es fundamental identificar sus distribuciones actuales y su estatus en los límites norte de sus rangos de distribución. Nosotros hemos revisado el estatus de estas tres raras especies en las Montañas de Chiricahua y Peloncillo al sudeste de Arizona donde recientemente se registraron avistajes. Las técnicas de estudio incluyeron entrevistas y recopilación de registros de avistajes publicados y no publicados, lo que permitió acumular información sobre las tres especies. Aunque los jaguares y ocelotes han ocupado el sudeste de Arizona en épocas pasadas, nosotros no hemos encontrado evidencias recientes de po- blaciones residentes o reproductivas. Se hacen recomendaciones respecto de las medidas que se necesitan para promover la conservación de esos gatos neotropicales en la región de estudio. Key words. Borderland. Jaguar. Jaguarundi. Neotropical. Ocelot. Palabras Clave. Fronteras. Jaguar. Neotropico. Ocelote. Yaguarundí. Recibido 2 mayo 2006. Aceptación final 1º mayo 2007. 190 Mastozoología Neotropical, 14(2):189-199, Mendoza, 2007 M Grigione et al. www.sarem.org.ar INTRODUCTION Orientals in Coahuila north into Texas, by the Sierra Madre highlands (USFWS, 1990). Like Three species of neotropical felids, the jaguar the jaguar, ocelots inhabit diverse habitats, (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), including montane forest, thick brush, semi- and jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaruni), have desert, riparian areas, semi-arid thorn scrub, been recorded periodically in the state of Ari- tropical dry forest, and rainforest (Emmons, zona from the mid-1800s to the present. How- 1987; Emmons et al., 1989; Bisbal, 1989; ever, only a few sightings of two of the spe- USFWS, 1990; Kitchener, 1991; Nowell and cies, the jaguar and ocelot, have been con- Jackson, 1996). Ocelots do not inhabit the firmed by a verified specimen or photograph, desert scrub of western Sonora (USFWS, and the status of all three species within the 1990), nor are they found in open country state remains in question. Because of their low (Kitchener, 1991), although they occasionally density and solitary, secretive nature, little is use the more open palm savanna and sandhills known about their population size, current of Venezuela (Sunquist et al., 1989). range, or habitat requirements in the south- Jagarundis inhabit extreme southern regions west United States (Nowell and Jackson, 1996; of Texas (Davis, 1974; Hall, 1981; USFWS, Grigione et al., 2001). At present, there are 1990; Girmendonk, 1994), but their distribu- approximately 100 ocelots in Texas (Laguna tion within Central and South America is not Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and sur- well known (Girmendonk, 1994). Like jaguars rounding ranches) and no known populations and ocelots, jaguarundis inhabit a diverse ar- of jaguars or jaguarundis in the U.S. (Grigione ray of habitats, including lowland forests and et al., 2001). thickets (Kitchener, 1991), tropical dry forest Jaguars historically occurred from the south- (Bisbal, 1989), riparian habitat, and abandoned ern United States to Argentina but have since agricultural fields (Konecny, 1989). They are experienced range contractions, primarily in not closely related to any of the other small Mexico and the United States in the north and neotropical cats, having descended from an- in Brazil and Argentina in the south (Nowell cestors that probably evolved in Europe be- and Jackson, 1996). Jaguars are excellent fore colonizing the Americas via the Bering swimmers and in the neotropics are usually land bridge, arriving at approximately the same associated with closed canopy forest and per- time as cougars (Puma concolor) (Werdelin, manent water sources below 1200 m. In 1985). Mexico, however, this species occupies scrub, All three neotropical cat species have been chaparral, oak, and oak-pine forests between placed on the United States Endangered Spe- 500 and 2700 m in altitude (Brown and López cies List, although the recovery plan for the González, 2000; Brown and López González, ocelot and jaguarundi does not outline critical 2001; López González, 2003). In Sonora and habitat for either species (USFWS, 1990). The southern Arizona and New Mexico, jaguars ocelot has also been protected by a mandate have been recorded in Sonoran desert scrub, of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission shrub-invaded semidesert, riparian areas, tropi- since 1970, although it is not included in the cal deciduous thorn forest, and montane oak Arizona List of Threatened Native Wildlife. and oak-pine forests (Brown and López- The IUCN List of Threatened Species (2007) González, 2000; Brown and López González, lists the jaguar as “near threatened.” 2001; López González, 2003). A study was initiated to investigate the sta- The known range of the ocelot extends from tus of these three neotropical felids in Ari- the southern United States south into Para- zona, focusing on the Chiricahua and guay and northern Argentina (Nowell and Jack- Peloncillo Mountains of Cochise County, son, 1996). Populations of the Sonoran ocelot southeastern Arizona, where recent sightings are isolated from the Texas ocelot, which of all three species have occurred. Although ranges from the foothills of the Sierra Madre somewhat isolated, both mountain ranges are NEOTROPICAL CATS IN SOUTHWESTERN USA 191 northern extensions of the Sierra Madre Moun- lands support primarily interior chaparral and tains of Mexico, and may thus be in a position Madrean evergreen woodlands, surrounded by to receive felid immigrants from established a matrix of semidesert grassland and populations to the south. During the course of Chihuahuan desertscrub (for biotic community this study data were also obtained from neigh- descriptions, see Brown, 1994). Madrean boring communities in western New Mexico montane coniferous forests dominate above and northern Sonora (Mexico). approximately 2300 m, and long, sinuous tongues of deciduous riparian forest exist METHODS wherever drainages provide predictable sub- surface flow during winter and spring. Al- Study area though semidesert grasslands supported pri- marily perennial grasses and sparse scrub at The Chiricahua and Peloncillo mountains of the time of European contact, heavy grazing southeastern Arizona form part of the
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