The range of jaguars spread throughout much of South America and Central America, with known populations existing in Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, and more. They tend to live close to bodies of water, generally occupying wooded areas or places with plenty of cove. They aren’t the kind of animal that you’d think of heading into North America, but believe it or not, there’ve been 5 separate jaguars spotted in Arizona over the past 15 years.
The Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center at the University of Arizona (Wild Cat Center) is a nonprofit organization that conducts science-driven research and wildlife monitoring with the hope of promoting wild cat conservation worldwide. Part of that work includes systematic, non-invasive data collection and citizen scientists trained in camera monitoring, eDNA sampling, tracking and data analysis.
Through their research, they’ve observed 5 jaguars in the wild of Arizona in the past 15 years. The first one was first noted in 2011 in the Whetstone Mountains by houndsman Donnie Fenn. The fifth and most recent was noted just this past November.
So what do you do if you, as a hiker, come across a jaguar in the wild? Well the chances are pretty slim, even if you’re hiking in an area where they’re more common. If you do encounter a jaguar in the wild, DO NOT RUN. Stay calm and quiet and move slowly away while keeping it in your field of vision. If you’re in a group, stay close together and put any children on your shoulders. Get as big as you can, and if the jaguar shows aggressive behavior like showing its teeth, get even bigger. Never approach the animal, no matter the case. Lastly, you should feel incredibly lucky to have spotted one in the first place, as it’s truly an incredibly rare sight.
