Jaguars, the largest wild cats in the Americas, are top carnivores. While their primary range lies in Central and South America, jaguars are exceptionally rare within the United States, representing the northernmost edge of their historical distribution.
Current Population Estimates
Currently, there is no established viable breeding population of jaguars in the United States. All confirmed sightings in recent decades have been of individual jaguars, predominantly males, that have dispersed northward from source populations in Mexico. Since the mid-1990s, approximately 10 to 12 unique individual jaguars have been documented within the U.S., primarily in southern Arizona and New Mexico. One notable example is “El Jefe,” a male jaguar extensively documented in Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains. Their elusive nature and rugged terrain make precise population figures challenging to obtain.
Historical Range and Decline
Historically, jaguars once roamed extensively across the American Southwest, with their range stretching through southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana, and occasionally venturing further north. However, their presence in the U.S. began a significant decline due to various human-induced pressures. Habitat loss and fragmentation, driven by agricultural expansion and development, severely reduced their available territories. Additionally, widespread hunting, including government-sponsored eradication campaigns and bounties aimed at protecting livestock, contributed significantly to their near extirpation from the U.S. By the mid-20th century, jaguars were effectively eliminated, with the last known female in the U.S. shot in Arizona in the mid-1960s.
Habitat and Movement Patterns
These areas often include “sky islands,” which are isolated forested mountain ranges rising from arid desert or grassland environments, along with riparian corridors. These movements highlight the continuous connection between U.S. borderlands and Mexican jaguar territories. Maintaining connectivity between these habitats is essential for any potential natural recolonization and for ensuring genetic exchange among populations. However, the construction of physical barriers, such as the U.S.-Mexico border wall, poses a significant threat by impeding these natural movement patterns.
Conservation and Recovery Efforts
Despite their rarity, significant conservation efforts are underway to protect jaguars and facilitate their potential return to the U.S. The species has been protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1972, providing a legal framework for their recovery. Federal agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, alongside non-profit organizations such as Defenders of Wildlife, Panthera, and the Northern Jaguar Project, are engaged in various initiatives. These efforts include the designation of critical habitat in southern Arizona and New Mexico, covering over 1,100 square miles, to safeguard areas suitable for jaguars. Scientific research, employing camera trapping and genetic analysis of scat and hair samples, helps monitor individuals and understand their movements. Cross-border cooperation with Mexico is also a focus, aiming to maintain and restore wildlife corridors that link U.S. habitats with the robust jaguar populations south of the border. Additionally, programs work to reduce human-jaguar conflict by promoting practices that deter livestock depredation and advocate against barriers like the border wall that fragment habitat.