Jaguar previously roamed Arizona’s Huachuca Mountains
Arizona Game and Fish Department confirmed the death of a jaguar that ventured into Arizona for the past two years. The Northern Jaguar Project, a group that protects jaguars, asked the agency for its help in confirming the jaguar’s identity from a photo of a jaguar pelt they received from someone in Mexico. The agency compared that photo with previous trail camera photos taken of the animal when it visited the Huachuca Mountains. Agency biologists found spot patterns on the pelt matched spot patterns on the live animal photos. “We are saddened to report this was the so-called ‘Huachuca cat’ seen in Arizona in late 2016 and early 2017,” said Jim deVos, AZGFD assistant director of the Wildlife Management Division. “We still don’t know when, where or why it was taken, but it’s a loss we’re all feeling.” Jaguars are protected animals in the U.S. and Mexico. The Arizona Daily Star has more of the story. photo courtesy Northern Jaguar Project • Follow TTHA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter •
