Status and distribution of jaguarundi in Texas and Northeastern México: Making the case for extirpation and initiation of recovery in the United States

Abstract

The jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) is a small felid with a historical range from central Argentina through southern Texas. Information on the current distribution of this reclusive species is needed to inform recovery strategies in the United States where its last record was in 1986 in Texas. From 2003 to 2021, we conducted camera‐trap surveys across southern Texas and northern Tamaulipas, México to survey for medium‐sized wild cats (i.e., ocelots [Leopardus pardalis], bobcats [Lynx rufus], and jaguarundi). After 350,366 trap nights at 685 camera sites, we did not detect jaguarundis at 16 properties or along 2 highways (1050 km2) in Texas. However, we recorded 126 jaguarundi photographic detections in 15,784 trap nights on 2 properties (125.3 km2) in the northern Sierra of Tamaulipas, Tamaulipas, México. On these properties, latency to detection was 72 trap nights, with a 0.05 probability of detection per day and 0.73 photographic event rate every 100 trap nights. Due to a lack of confirmed class I sightings (e.g., specimen, photograph) in the 18 years of this study, and no other class I observations since 1986 in the United States, we conclude that the jaguarundi is likely extirpated from the United States. Based on survey effort and results from México, we would have expected to detect jaguarundis over the course of the study if still extant in Texas. We recommend that state and federal agencies consider jaguarundis as extirpated from the United States and initiate recovery actions as mandated in the federal jaguarundi recovery plan. These recovery actions include identification of suitable habitat in Texas, identification of robust populations in México, and re‐introduction of the jaguarundi to Texas.

How effective is camera trapping in monitoring grassland species in the southern Pampas ecoregion?

“…We programmed cameras with a minimum latency time of 1 minute between detections. The detection of more than 1 individual of the same species captured within a 30-minute period in a single camera was assumed to be the same individual and, therefore, was not considered an independent event (Kelly & Holub, 2008;Lombardi et al, 2022). We checked cameras every 7-10 days to download photographs, replace batteries and ensure that cameras were operational.…”

Interspecific patterns of small cats in an intraguild-killer free area of the threatened Caatinga drylands, Brazil

“…Jaguarundis did not respond to different levels of tree cover, which suggests that the species is less constrained to different vegetation types than the northern tiger cat. Throughout their range, jaguarundis have been known to use a wide variety of habitats, including savannas, thorn shrub and dense forests [18,36,[69][70][71].…”

Integrating presence‐only and presence–absence data to model changes in species geographic ranges: An example in the Neotropics

“…As a test case for our IDM, we chose the jaguarundi ( Herpailurus yagouaroundi , also known in Spanish as yaguarundí, gato moro, leoncillo, león brenero, and onza) (Figure 1), which has a large distribution across Latin America, but knowledge of it has been limited by the data. Evidence shows that carnivore species such as the jaguarundi, have been recently varying their geographic distribution, most often noted around range edges (Grattarola et al, 2016; Lombardi et al, 2022; Luengos Vidal et al, 2017), and their abundance, over their entire distribution range (Caso et al, 2015). However, whether these changes are a product of previous lack of monitoring efforts in the region or due to the expansion or contraction of this species' range over time has not been quantitatively studied.…”