The Jaguarundi is a wild, beautiful feline found in Mexico but not in the U.S. However, a dead one was found in Texas in 1986, and that was enough to get it classified as "endangered" here.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley is similar enough to the animal's habitat that the The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has implemented a plan to lure them here (or bring them back). See Gulf Coast Jaguarundi Recovery Plan.
It really is a beautiful animal. The photo you see on the right was recovered from an item at Businessinsider.com titled The Endangered Jaguarundi Is Coming Back To Texas. They're supposed to be very reclusive, so heaven only know how anyone will know when they're here. Look for road kill, I guess.
And how does one lure a Jaguarundi? The Plan calls for restoring sufficient habitat to support viable populations, and among other things, "reducing the effects of human population growth and development on potential gulf coast jaguarundi habitat." In other words, restricting what land owners can do with their properties. And I shudder to think what they would do if the animals did turn up as road kill.
It's a beautiful animal, I would welcome one to my own little wildlife viewing station. But if it means humans are the ones who have to adapt then maybe it would be better if they stayed home.
Comments