American Jaguars Endangered by Border Fence

Researchers say planned expansion of U.S.-Mexico fence may prove an end to jaguars north of the border

By Matt Ransford Posted 04.02.2008 at 5:07 am 4 Comments

Jaguar MarcusObal

The exceedingly rare southwestern jaguar is being further hemmed in along the U.S.-Mexico border as the American government moves to construct 670 new miles of fence this year. The jaguar is a solitary animal with a very large range, two factors working against it in the wake of the construction. Most of the barriers will be built in the low, flat valleys, forcing everything—animals and people—into the high mountain passes. Thought to have been extinct in the United States, they have reappeared in very southern Arizona and New Mexico in the past seven years.

Ultimately, the odds are against the animals. All of the sightings have been of males, which tells researchers there is no female population in the U.S. That means travel across the border is critical for the males to go back and forth between hunting and breeding grounds. Additionally, the U.S. government has abandoned the recovery of jaguar populations as a federal goal, making conservation efforts nearly impossible. While this does not spell the end for the jaguar as a species—only a tiny percentage live in the U.S.—it may very well mean the end of the jaguar north of Mexico.

Previous Article: City Bird, Country Bird

Next Article: Algae's Fuel Potential

Want to learn more about the environment, solar energy, sustainability, and more? Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!

4 Comments

link to this comment

cougar

04/02/08 at 5:13 pm

I am sure I would not want to meet face to face in the wild. However, it saddens me that our culture gives little regard for the natural world. A little of us dies each day and the natural world dies. But, then again perhaps another strip mall will satisfy what is missing in all our lives.

link to this comment

DarkFx

from Winnipeg, Manitoba

04/02/08 at 8:20 pm

Hey, The U.S. Buys land from Mexico, It should sell Alaska to Canada. THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP OUR BELOVED ARCTIC FOX'S. Wether or not there is the indirect or direct links that EVERYTHING On this planet is from the same genetic line, we should protect life and life in general,Not all species will be domesticated to human, most humans arnt even out of the darkages yet.

Outrage, this is like an astronaught Claiming Land On Mars or the Moon and killing off some last form of life that ever existed. Land Reserves seem appropriate, No Mans Land.

link to this comment

sailingfurther

04/03/08 at 10:17 am

Yep the good ol U.S.A, Freedom as long as you pay pay pay and do it our way or else. Our great wall of the US, Funny China did that too. Freedom is for everyone and is free, NO BORDERS NO PAPERS NO WORRIES. It dosn't matter what the government kills off as long as they can make a buck off of it, Animals, People, The planet, None of it matters as long as some fat lazy politicians and their contractor buddies line their pockets more.
Our world is at a very sad crossroads at this time and moment, What are WE THE PEOPLE going to do about it.
Fair winds my friends

link to this comment

thunderstorm

04/04/08 at 12:28 pm

Why did the U.S.A. stop the Jaguar recovery effort? If there is just male jaguars in the area, then couldn't we move in another breed of female jaguars. I mean a jaguar is a jaguar, is it not? Outside of a few unique differences, a jaguar is a jaguar. The United States should launch a female jaguar finding mission to absolutely make sure there are no females in the shrinking area the jaguars live in. Also, if any female jaguars exist in the area, everything should be done to protect these wonderful creatures. If just males are in the area, females from another area should be moved in, the males should be allowed to die in peace or some of the males could be removed to a breeding area to mix with other female jaguars there.