Experts have classified ocelots as endangered since 1982, with their wild population dwindling to fewer than 100 individuals. However, recent DNA analysis offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that there may be more of these elusive cats than previously estimated.
The breakthrough came after scientists examined genetic samples from an ocelot discovered deceased on Highway 281 in Hidalgo County in 2021. The analysis revealed that the animal was genetically linked to breeding populations in South Texas and shared DNA characteristics with ocelots found in northeast Mexico.
Sharon Wilcox, senior Texas representative for Defenders of Wildlife, highlighted the significance of these findings, suggesting that remote regions of Hidalgo County might harbor more ocelots, provided suitable habitat and prey are available.
Traditionally, ocelots roamed across southwestern Arkansas, western Louisiana, and much of Texas, thriving in shrubbery ecosystems. However, their historic range has significantly diminished, now limited to Southeast Texas along the Mexico border and the Gulf Coast.
The discovery of an ocelot in Hidalgo County marks the first documented instance of the species being observed outside its known U.S. range, extending approximately 50 miles beyond its historical territory. Wildlife veterinarian Tom DeMaar, a member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, expressed curiosity about the potential presence of more hidden ocelots in the area.
The endangered status of ocelots is primarily attributed to habitat loss caused by agricultural expansion and urban development. Only a small population of 30 to 35 ocelots persists in the shrublands near the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, located approximately 30 miles north of Brownsville, Texas. In 1995, estimates suggested that Texas was home to 80 to 120 ocelots, underscoring the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect this vulnerable species.
