After 40 years of absence, an extinct-thought predator Cat is found in its natural environment in Texas
Texas residents are reporting sightings of the jaguarundi, a feline species thought to have been extinct in the region since the 1980s.
Residents in certain Texas communities are reporting sightings of a Jaguarundi, a small cat that was believed to have disappeared from the region more than 40 years ago. These reports are generating excitement and concern, as experts investigate if the feline has natural returned or been displaced due to environmental changes.
The community of Seguin, in particular, has seen multiple reports of the cat on major highways, with similar sightings reported in nearby areas. While the jaguarundi remains difficult to spot due to its preference for dense, remote habitats, its recent appearance near urban settings have raised questions about its future in Texas.
An elusive predator with history in Texas
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) confirms that the last jaguarundi sighting was in 1986, near Brownsville, Texas. The animal has been since listed as extirpated in the "Lone Star" state, though there are small populations present in northern Mexico.
This cat, roughly the size of a large domestic cat, has a uniform coat ranging from reddish-brown to dark gray coat of solid color. It is known for being active during the day, especially midday.
Although small, the jaguarundi is extremely difficult to spot due to its habitation of dense territories far from human intrusion. Recent sightings in more urbanized areas are uncommon and have introduced controversy to the feasibility of its reintroduction.
Meteorologist Brad Sowder of FOX San Antonio reported the sightings on his Facebook page, where others also shared similar encounters in places such as Uvalde, Del Río, Chappel Hill, and Lake Jackson.
The possibility that a Jaguarundi has returned to Texas brings to mind its habitat and the condition of the environment today.
A natural return or force displacement for the Jaguarundi?
The TPWD has not officially confirmed the reported sightings. Biologist and wildfire specialist are cautious about the possibility of a natural return. Rachel Malstaff, a San Antonio Zoo director of mammals, said that the species was not likely to have returned naturally.
Malstaff suggested that habitat loss in Mexico may be pushing the animals north into new habitat to take over.
These factors of deforestation and urbanization in its native habitat may be behind these sightings in the state of Texas, especially regions bordering the U.S.-Mexico border.
The scientific community is studying the phenomenon with keen interest, but local residents hope that this elusive predator, which has been absent for over 40 years, has returned to the region.
