Arizona snared their last jaguar: ny times:

[amborin]

"Contrary to their denials, employees of the Arizona Game and Fish Department intentionally snared the last known jaguar in the Southwest last year, a report by the federal government says.

snip

Wildlife advocates and politicians had demanded a federal investigation of the capture of the male cat, nicknamed Macho B, which was freed soon after he was snared but later recaptured and euthanized because he was ailing. Many described the department’s account of his capture and death as suspicious.

snip

But Arizona’s Game and Fish Department called the document incomplete and denied that it was to blame.

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In February, the 118-pound jaguar, which then appeared to be in fine health, was captured in a leg-hold snare in the mountains near Nogales, Ariz. His canine tooth was broken as a result. He was tranquilized, equipped with a radio collar and released.

Days later it was found that Macho B was not moving, and he was recaptured and brought to the Phoenix zoo. Veterinarians there said he was suffering from irreversible kidney failure and euthanized him."

snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/science/earth/23jaguar.html?ref=science

[hlthe2b]

1. linky dinki?

[amborin]

3. added, sorry

[Quixote1818]

2. These Cats use to be all over Arizona, New Mexico and Texas when the Spanish arrived

now they just occasionally cross the Arizona and New Mexico borders. Would love to see them permanently in the SW US.

[malakai2]

4. Go to the link here and make comments!

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/">FWS Southwest Region Homepage

There are several links on the FWS Region 2 page about the jaguar's status under the Endangered Species Act. This one is a nice little primer on the situation...critical habitat comments solicitation. The comment period closes March 15th.

If making comments, be sure to point out that 1) jaguars occupy large home ranges and are difficult to locate within their ranges, therefore designating critical habitat will not make them more susceptible to take than they already are, and 2) the designation WOULD be beneficial. Possible reasons to cite would include the collapse of the northern end of the species' range since the late 1800s, the potential loss of the remaining northernmost breeding population with political instability and habitat loss in Mexico, the ESA's mandate to federal agencies (including land management agencies) to "conserve" listed species whereby "conserve" means to assist in recovering a species to the point it no longer requires listing, etc. At the very least, designating select canyons and riparian areas would force federal agencies to consider impacts to jaguar recovery before proceeding with projects, rather than simply considering (as they currently do) whether or not the projects will jeopardize the continued existence of the species.

[amborin]

5. thanks for the link! here's the email I sent to both:

(based on the template you provided)

public has until march to email comments:


"Please designate critical habitat for jaguars, and please implement recovery planning for the jaguars, as well.

Jaguars occupy large home ranges and are difficult to locate within their ranges, so designating critical habitat is an important step that any wildlife agency should take.

Designating critical habitat areas for jaguars would be extremely beneficial, especially given the rampant development throughout the SouthWest in the past decade.

Since the 1800s, we've seen the collapse of the northern end of the species' range, and the potential loss of the remaining northernmost breeding population with political instability and habitat loss in Mexico.

Please heed the ESA's mandate to federal agencies (including land management agencies) to "conserve" listed species, and please note that "conserve" means to assist in recovering a species to the point it no longer requires listing.

At the very least, designating select canyons and riparian areas will encourage federal agencies to consider impacts to jaguar recovery before proceeding with other projects, rather than simply considering (as they currently do) whether or not the projects will jeopardize the continued existence of the species.

Thank you."