I root for the big cats that wander up.
Posted March 13, 2009
Although jaguars are native to Arizona, little is known about the population segment that resides in Mexico and uses southern Arizona and New Mexico as the northern extent of its range.
It was thought the species had been extirpated from the state until 1996 when the first jaguar documented since 1986 was photographed by a southern Arizona rancher/mountain lion hunter. Since that time, wildlife biologists have tried to learn more about jaguars and their use of the borderland habitats in order to further conservation efforts. However, with little more than the occasional individual documented on remote trail cameras, the species remained an elusive mystery.
Then, on Feb. 18, 2009, jaguar conservation in the borderlands experienced an exciting development with the incidental capture, collaring and release of a jaguar. The jaguar was captured inadvertently by the Arizona Game and Fish Department during a black bear and mountain lion research study south of Tucson. Using a handling and capture protocol developed by leading jaguar experts, biologists took the opportunity to fit the cat with a lightweight satellite tracking collar in the hopes of learning more about the species’ existence in Arizona.
The following day the cat was identified as Macho B, a male jaguar that had been photographed (mainly) by trail cameras periodically over the past 13 years. Macho B was believed to be the oldest known jaguar in the wild at 15-16 years old. Previously the oldest wild jaguar known was 13 years old. In captivity, jaguars have lived as long as 21 years.
Tracking-collar data transmitted in the days following the capture and collaring of Macho B indicated that the animal was doing well, traveling more than three miles after being released. Then the data revealed a reduced pattern of movement and foraging.
A field team consisting of Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists and a wildlife veterinarian was deployed to locate the animal and assess its overall condition. It was determined that the jaguar required recapture so that his condition could be better evaluated by expert veterinarians at The Phoenix Zoo.
Through blood tests and physical exam, zoo veterinarians found the cat was suffering from severe and unrecoverable kidney failure. Acting on a recommendation from the zoo veterinarians, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department determined that the jaguar should be euthanized to end his suffering. Analyses are underway at two independent laboratories to determine as much as possible about what might have contributed to the terminal kidney failure. The results will be reviewed by a third independent expert before a complete report is available to Arizona Game and Fish to share with cooperators and the public.
The death of Macho B was very disappointing from any perspective. The wildlife conservation community looked forward to using the data acquired from him to learn more about how jaguars use borderlands habitats and to better inform borderlands conservation efforts. To the public at large, the erratic but magical presence of this wily recluse was a symbol of the incalculable value of the borderlands now and, hopefully, for future generations to come. Unfortunately, the mysteries that so many hoped would be revealed by Macho B will now remain secrets. Nobody regrets the loss of Macho B more than the Arizona Game and Fish Department, especially those of us who participated in the capture, monitoring, or death of this magnificent animal
Terry
Probably by a lion hunter working for one of the ranches down there. Poaching is really a misnomer to describe this action. You have to have game laws to actually have “poaching”. In that part of the world, the landowners are the law and the federal government does not go against them.
The Sonoran desert is a tough place for those big cats and there were most likely never many of them. It is fringe habitat at best. Hard to believe that they could make it year round in that desert with the limited food sources. Jaguars are one of the few cats that really do well in wet jungle and are at home in the water. Lots of lions for competition in southern Arizona and Northern Mexico as well.
There are lots of jaguars in the jungles of central and South America. More than enough to support hunting and the revenue that it would generate would help the local communities immensely. Unfortunately, anti-hunters have influenced the international laws that make hunting them illegal. Since it is not internationally legal, local people that live in those areas kill them and sell them on the black market which does not help for management of this species and does not help in recovery in any areas where those populations are struggling.
There was a rancher/hounds man down east of Douglas on the border that I met back in the 90’s that had spectacular pictures of a jaguar that his dogs had bayed up in the Peloncillo’s in the 80’s. Said that he had been seeing them and their tracks in that country between the Peloncillo’s and Chiricahua’s for many years and the AG&F wouldn’t believe him. Said he didn’t want to run the jaguars because they tended to want to fight rather than tree up and were hell on his dogs. Finally decided run one and get pictures to prove it. He said that the AG&F didn’t know what they were doing and mishandled that jaguar by keeping him sedated too long and that was what killed him.
The Northern Jaguar Project is a group of people working to capture jaguars in Sonora and Arizona to gather data on their populations, ranges, travel routes, and overall population in that part of the world. It is a daunting task in extremely rough, rocky, thorn brush covered country to try and capture and study these big cats that tend to choose fight over flight. Not to mention the drug cartels in those areas and infighting between what could be best described as private armies for territory and trade routes. Crazy part of the world that is kind of off the map from a US perspective.
Pope and Young has teamed up with the Northern Jaguar Project to raise money for the cause through bow hunts for Coues deer on some of the ranches that they are conducting their research on. With enough scientific study of these big cats, there is the possibility of reopening international legal hunting of this great species.
Tavis... You said the rancher east of Douglas had been seeing them “and their tracks”. Is there a definitive way of differentiating jaguar tracks from mountain loin tracks? Size possibly, or was he just assuming they were jaguar tracks due to the proximity of the actual sightings?
Jaguars have much bigger feet and they are heavier so they push down more.
Those guys that are outside more than inside working cows, mending fences, and hunting year round get a lot more aware of what’s out there in the hills than the average person, even average hunter, that only spends a few days in the woods a year.
Heck, most game biologists spend more time behind a desk than out in the woods as well! Especially those that work for the government.
Would love to see legalization of hunting for jaguars and the many other varied species in Central and South America that 99% have never heard of. Legalizing hunting of those native game animals will increase their populations and provide conservation dollars to help all of the native game and non-game species in those countries.
Beautiful cats, I'd love to see one...
I've seen those vids, they really are stone cold killers. What a magnificent creature.
Any excuse they can find to stop hunting in any form.
Hell, there is no decent “jaguar habitat” north of the Yucatán! Much less in New Mexico!
Another reason to not support New Mexico Game and Fish!
Hell, I love a lot of southern New Mexico and NM G&F continues to doe everything they can to prove their ineptitude.
