Jaguars, the largest wild cats in the Americas, are native to Arizona. While their presence has fluctuated, the state has historically been part of their natural range. Their history in this region reflects a rich ecological past and ongoing conservation efforts.
Historical Range and Evidence
Jaguars historically ranged from Argentina north into the southern United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California, and Louisiana. In Arizona, these cats roamed extensively, with records as far north as the Grand Canyon and throughout the Sky Islands region. This area, with its isolated mountain ranges, provided diverse habitats.
Evidence includes fossil records dating back over 850,000 years, and accounts from early European settlers and indigenous peoples. The Arizona Game and Fish Department documented over 80 jaguar accounts in the state between 1884 and 1996, many in the early 20th century. Some records suggest a once-resident breeding population, including female jaguars and offspring.
Current Presence and Recent Sightings
Arizona’s jaguar population declined significantly in the 20th century due to hunting, predator control programs, and habitat loss. Perceived as threats to livestock, jaguars were largely eradicated. The last known female was killed in 1963, and by the late 1960s, jaguars were considered eliminated from the U.S. Arizona outlawed jaguar hunting in 1969, but few were seen for 25 years.
Despite their historical extirpation, recent decades have seen sporadic sightings in Arizona. These are primarily transient males dispersing from Sonora, Mexico. Documented jaguars include Macho B (since 1996), El Jefe (sighted 2011-2015 in Santa Rita Mountains), and Sombra (Dos Cabezas and Chiricahua Mountains, 2016). A new male was confirmed in the Huachuca Mountains in late 2023, the eighth documented individual in the Southwest in three decades. These sightings do not indicate a stable breeding population in Arizona.
Conservation Efforts
Jaguars are an endangered species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1997. This prohibits hunting or killing them, reducing human-caused mortality. Conservation efforts focus on restoring habitat connectivity, especially across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Habitat loss, fragmentation, and border infrastructure impede jaguar movement. Over 700,000 acres in southern Arizona and New Mexico are designated critical habitat. Organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity and Sky Island Alliance work with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Arizona Game and Fish Department to monitor jaguars via camera traps and genetic studies. These groups advocate for policies protecting jaguar habitats and promote international cooperation with Mexico, important for recovery. The long-term objective is a self-sustaining jaguar population in the region.