Ocelot of Trouble

Though fossil records show otherwise, the Ocelot or Dwarf leopard probably was never abundant in it's "northern range" of present day Arizona and Texas, where it's presently listed as Endangered. In Texas, a population of 50 to 100 ocelots has been holding steady for several years, but a population that small may not have enough genetic diversity to survive indefinitely. Ocelots (Felis pardalis) have been documented in Arizona, though loss of habitat may limit them. Ocelots prefer dense thorn-scrub, live oak scrub, or riparian areas with an overstory cover. This one was filmed during a recent visit to the Sonoran Desert Museum in southern Arizona. 11/11/2010