The Truth About Jaguars in The U.S.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Correction: There are other subspecies of Jaguar but it is highly debated. Also a lot of people have told me El Jefe now currently lives in Mexico. Most if not all of the Jaguars sighted in Arizona do go back and forth though it should be noted El Jefe hasn’t had a confirmed in Arizona for over 2 years now (currently only been sighted in Mexico but he likely still goes back and forth).

[@seyersusej8329]

Can you post the sources you used for information in this video? Thanks!

[@trollmastermike52845]

We go subspecies of humans too as I am a troll type 😂😂😂

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

@@seyersusej8329 I get my information from all over. Sometimes KZbin videos, other times experts who I talk too, other times just classic internet research and stuff I already known for years so it’s hard to site sources, but I’ll try to site some of my sources and other people who know a lot about these topics in future videos though.

[@AXiong-x7y]

Defo best to treat jaguar as monotypic (ie no subspecies), or well none that are still around anyways

[@pekenu123]

In Brazil we have two subspecies of jaguars: the Amazon subspecies which is a smaller jaguar, more arboristic (tree climbers). They live part of their lives up in trees due to the floods and hunt monkeys, fishes and gators. They even have litters up in the trees. There is the Pantanal/Cerrado jaguar. A bigger jaguar with males reaching over 100 kg (220 lbs). The biggest ever measured was around 150 kg (330 lbs). Even today wild big males at 120 kg (266lbs) are found. They are about a lioness size, though shorter and more broad, they are built like a tank. They cover all of Brasil except for the dense Amazon forest. The boarding regions of the forest has more of the bigger cats due to sharing territory and fighting. I currently live in Marabá - Pará. There's a small zoo with both kinds of cats, the size difference is enormous. The smaller jaguar is more comparable with a cougar/puma/mountain lion we have here, the "sussuarana or onça vermelha", yet shorter and more muscular.

[@Anythings_go23]

I knew we had Jaguars in the United States but I never knew we had ocelots too crazy you learn something new every day

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Yep but the ocelots are even rarer in Arizona and New Mexico though they aren’t too uncommon in certain parts of southern Texas.

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

Usa also used to have jaguarundi and tapir, capybara, guanacoes, camel, spectacled bear etc.

[@ageneralgamer15]

@@GavinTheWildlifeGuymy grandfather has trail cameras on our property in central Texas and had a photo of what we believe was an ocelot.

[@erikm8372]

Yeah, as recently as a few years ago, in either Imperial County or possibly San Diego County, CA, or somewhere in AZ (I don’t remember), a park ranger’s dog was barking nonstop at a tree, and he realized there was an ocelot at the top. There’s a video of it on YT. When they came back later it had run away.

[@Mrbfgray]

I knew they (jags) had long penetrated to some Sothern areas but no idea they ranged so deep and wide. My one concern about the border wall is wildlife exchange, we need wildlife corroders across borders.

[@obambagaming1467]

Jaguars in the Everglades would be interesting to see. Jaguars in general once lived there. But they could keep the Pythons in check, atleast help a little bit. Out of all big cats, Jaguars are known to prey on reptiles way more than the others.

[@troywehr4029]

I was just gonna say this, all the iguana, caiman, nile crocs, pythons, monkeys

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

With all these black panther sightings who knows… though yeah I’m 99% sure that there’s no Jaguars in the Everglades but I do agree that it would be interesting to see how they’d impact the ecosystem by returning to Florida. If they would make things better or worse.

[@gottocatchthemallbullys7597]

Florida would be perfect for these big cat

[@roryoneill9444]

True Jaguars would do that but relocating wild Puma from Brazil's Amazon, that hunt Anaconda, would be better as idea they could introduce new genetic material to the Florida Puma that has a limited genetic range so "kill two birds with one stone" and Jaguars in Florida could push the Florida Puma to extinction..

[@willieclark2256]

@@roryoneill9444it’s often easier for introduced species to hunt a new native species that just happens to lack adaptation to the introduced species hunting style - rather than hunt an invasive that is already adapted (at least somewhat) to the introduced predators hunting style. This is what happened with the cane toad in Australia, but also raccoons in europe

[@JasonMillerOutdoors]

I'm the one who got the last footage of a Jaguar in Az last Dec 2023. You have my footage on here.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Neat, I saw a few of your videos. Love your footage and am honestly jealous lol. I need to get my own trail cameras

[@troychambliss784]

😲

[@metalmamasue3680]

There had been a jaguar named Macho B but he died and El Jefe who was seen on trail cams in AZ was last seen in Mexico. I think it would be cool if they reestablished a small population in the southwest again.👍

[@riddick7991]

That's really cool bro.once in a lifetime video.ghost videos don't have shit on this.

[@tom7471]

@JasonMillerOutdoors I have watched your video a few times! Awesome video capture!

[@michaelhowell2326]

I would have called someone crazy or stupid if they told me jaguars were present on the Eastern seaboard when Europeans arrived before seeing this. It makes the Jacksonville mascot make more sense.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Yes and no. There are reports of Europeans claiming that “tygers” and “leopards” were on the East coast, but in very low numbers though it is debated if this is false information, jaguars or simply reports of cougars. Also some Native American tribes east of the Mississippi had art depicting Jaguars but it’s never been officially confirmed if jaguars were still present far east of the Mississippi when Europeans first arrived. I think they probably were but it’s highly debated.

[@michaelhowell2326]

@GavinTheWildlifeGuy probably a stupid question, but have any jaguar bones been found East of the Mississippi that could be dated to that time?

[@markivy3451]

​@@GavinTheWildlifeGuy south alabama jags and i know someone who said they saw one twice 09 and 15 and other people told them also In the bayou. Some reports probably true others straight lies. I have possibly seen also,they know to stay away from humans though. Other than hogs,ive heard of a bear going after a human in florida over a bee hive.

[@roryoneill9444]

In that case and other similar situations, places like Jacksonville etc could sponsor reintroductions..

[@itzzmadness-_-6712]

@@roryoneill9444 i think the east coast is too populated (human wise) for any part of the government to permit a reintroduction which kinda sucks for the invasive wild boars but is understandable

[@jefesalsero]

I've seen plenty of cougars in nightclubs - apparently they're not rare or endangered.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

No but they can be dangerous. Very deadly depending on the disease they carry.

[@JaimeTanner-b2i]

​@@GavinTheWildlifeGuydon't turn your back on one!

[@nolongerblocked6210]

Those cougars are only deadly to your wallet, they'll destroy those

[@waltertodd4479]

I think they feed on whales in that nightclub too.

[@Daniel-ou4fb]

Really? I meet lots of bears in bars.

[@charliebrown4799]

I seen a video on YT of a jaguar swimming to a small island where a caiman was sunbathing. It crept up behind it, pounced and bit down where the base of the skull meets the neck, then picked it up, swam back to the mainland, and carried it up a steep embankment, and then disappeared into the jungle. Ive been a HUGE fan of Jaguars ever since

[@grichard1585]

They have the most powerful bite force of all the big cats - 1500 to 2000psi Whereas Tigers have approximately 1,000 psi and Lions have approximately 650 psi

[@charliebrown4799]

@@grichard1585 jeez.. just imagine the damage a jaguar could do if it was the size of a tiger or a lion. That thing would be unstoppable

[@zipperpillow]

That was my caiman. I just let him out for a little sunbath, and now he's gone forever. I miss you, "Bitey". Jaguars are mean.

[@charliebrown4799]

@@zipperpillow lol

[@AlbertaGeek]

The jaguars are one thing, but I'm just as fascinated to learn of these "sky islands"! So many rabbit holes, so little time...

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Solomon’s Outdoor Adventures has a really good video on them so I’d recommend you check his video out on it cause I also got so many video ideas and so little time.

[@AlbertaGeek]

@@GavinTheWildlifeGuy Thanks, I'll check it out!

[@myradioon]

You can drive to the top of Mt. Lemmon (9000 ft) in AZ and experience 5 different Biozones in one day.

[@FredAmnit]

There are quite a few sky islands that you can drive up. Mt. Lemmon near Tucson (I think it's the only mountain named after a woman), the Chiricahua Mountains in Cochise County (Chiricahua National Monument), Mount Graham, in Graham County just north of Cochise, Kitt Peak and others. Most of the ones with roads to or near the summits also have observatories. Kitt Peak of course is world famous for its observatories (think of them as an extremely expensive collection of glassware), but Mount Lemmon is where a lot of near-earth objects were discovered. In addition to being corridors for wildlife, they also act as traps. Just like islands, they can isolate species. The Mount Graham squirrel is a notable example, but black bears too find the desert surrounding these mountains to be unappealing if not impassable.

[@affordabledesertliving3487]

A friend of mine outside of Douglas AZ had one in his yard at night. It was so close that he used his cell phone to snap a quick photo. All that was visible was the back and sides but the prominent spotted rosettes of the animal were super clear. He didnt even know what it was but just knew it was about the size of a labrador retriever and very powerful looking. Very cool I think!

[@Midnightmidway]

I'm not an expert but Jaguar seem far less predatory toward humans than other big cats, even the leopard. Jaguar tend to avoid humans and don't seem interested in them. Not that a starving jaguar wouldn't eat a human of course

[@michaelholden6096]

Cool. I seen a black one in the white mountains in the '90s crossed the road in front of me and my cousin. No one believes us still.

[@jacktrout5807]

​@michaelholden6096 my uncle seen one yup there in the 70s

[@lpz6564]

I worked in south AZ and I got to see a black Jaguar at night. My headlights lit him up in a winding mountain road near Ruby, AZ. There are plenty of deer of them to eat. Mt Lions are also plentiful.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Yeah the video I put in the intro was of a melanistic big cat in Arizona likely a Jaguar so it wouldn’t surprise me too much if what you saw truly was a black Jaguar.

[@lpz6564]

@@GavinTheWildlifeGuy I was not the only one to see a black Jaguar. Several people claimed that they saw one in Rio Rico, AZ.

[@bdd063]

I live in Rio Rico there has been reports of black jags out in the hills for as long as I can remember

[@wingracer1614]

Never seen a black big cat in the wild. We have Florida panthers here but they are quite rare, only ever seen one once and he was definitely not black. They have black spots when kittens but turn all tan quickly. I do however have a black house panther and she is sweety, LOL. note: not actually a panther. House panther is a nickname for black house cats

[@dangerousdylan6262]

You're full of it

[@KonnorHermann]

I agree with what you stated about North Americas apex predatory mammal situation. Because it's a real problem up here in Southern Canada as well, we have almost no apex predatory species anymore here in the far south and with the rate of our biodiversity loss as well as the threat of invasive boars on the rise, something needs to be done, fast.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

That’s such a shame. By south Canada you mean east, west, or central? At least west Canada has some incredible marine life but yeah it is a shame how so many incredible large mammal species have declined across North America over the years.

[@noahrafter-lanigan2409]

@@GavinTheWildlifeGuy pretty much all of Southern Canada is suffering from rapid and severe biodiversity loss, due to the majority of our population living within 100 kilometers of the us border. I live in the middle of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor in Red Deer, our forests and communities are suffering from the destruction of lots of habitat for useless suburban sprawl. I am only 18 but there is a lot of places in my city that I remember being beautiful aspen parkland that are now barren and aesthetically homogenous suburban slums with useless thirsty lawns. It is such a disgusting shame that the children younger than me growing up here in Red Deer will never experience the peace and beauty of the fields and forests that have been bulldozed to make room for the shitburbs they are currently watching brainrot in.

[@KonnorHermann]

@@GavinTheWildlifeGuy My apologies, I should have been more specific. I was talking about the real and serious threat of Biodiversity loss in Southern Ontario - Southeastern Canada. It's really hard to actually summarize how bad it is here, but basically we have lost almost all of our keystone mammalian species. The effects have been catastrophic..

[@KonnorHermann]

@@noahrafter-lanigan2409 I know right!? It's an absolutely avoidable issue and it's so frustrating. Our government from what I've seen and heard is doing quite literally almost NOTHING to support conservation, in fact? The exact opposite.

[@LolitaDavidovich934]

Release sterile apex predators.

[@alantower9659]

I don't know the story of my cat, but about 5 years ago a jaguar walked through my property in the foothills of Tucson AZ. He could not care less about me. Looked briefly at me, but never broke stride in any way as he continued his trek.

[@ArborZen]

Why use large vocabulary words? “Stride” “trek”. Next time say ‘pace’ and ‘journey’

[@davethompson1702]

thanks for the video, but i think you need to give Jason Miller the credit he rightly deserves for getting these Jags on video and opening up this entire conversation, thanks to Jason's work and videos we all can see these amazing videos

[@davidponseigo8811]

I own a large amount of property in North Louisiana and the game wardens kept telling me mountain lions don't exist in Louisiana until I sent them multiple videos and photos of a female and young one and a male about a year later.

[@nolongerblocked6210]

You should post those videos on your YT account, I'd love to see them & I'm positive other's would too

[@purplehaze2358]

As an Arizonan, I for one welcome our new jaguar overlords.

[@YosimetySam]

Just keep in mind they are very efficient predators,pets and small children are prey to them.They are beautiful ɓut deadly.

[@purplehaze2358]

@@YosimetySam Pets? Sure. But small children? Not really, no. Jaguars just, don't see humans as prey. And, unlike most other big cats, they don't really need to either considering most of their standard fare are pushovers compared to what leopards, lions, and tigers need to grapple with.

[@25Jake]

​@YosimetySam the coyotes which are already here would be the bigger issue. You just described coyotes exactly pretty much lol. Except for the kids thing 😂

[@BlahBlahBlahBlah69]

There used to be more until they were hunted. They outlawed it in 1969 I believe after the last female was killed. Farmers had issues or claimed to have issues with them.

[@NizaElMulatto]

@@purplehaze2358Jaguars have been known to attack humans and especially the children

[@joshfranklin1894]

I live in southern Arkansas and all my life I heard stories of people seeing black panthers, which I hear are just melanistic Jaguars. I'm 44 and although I hunt and have multiple trail cams out I have never seen one, but my grandma used to swear that she saw one

[@GenocideDenierlol]

I grew up in Louisiana hearing a few stories of spotted/black cats. I was riding an old back road one morning that had high ground on either side and a cat a little bigger than a bobcat with a tail jumped down one side and up the other. It was so fast I couldn't see well but I know I saw dark patterns on its coat.

[@pekenu123]

The jaguars do come with a variety of melanine that sometimes makes them darker. They retain their roseta spots even though

[@AtropalArbaal-dk8jv]

Panther is a mutation. Any species of cat with black pigment, can be a panther. And yes, that includes housecats.

[@AtropalArbaal-dk8jv]

The panther in "The Jungle Book" was a leopard.

[@GenocideDenierlol]

@@AtropalArbaal-dk8jv Panther is a name given to cats with a solid colored coat. So it can be black, tan, brown, or whatever the case may be. In the US panther is always used to refer to a Mountain Lion, which does not have the melanistic trait needed for a black coat. The black has to already be present like in a leopards spots for the mutation to happen. So...yup. right on.

[@notsosilentmajority1]

The jaguar is my favorite big cat. We've seen jaguars in the US for years now and hopefully, they will return to the US with a decent sized population. We already have mountain lions, Mexican (reintroduced) Wolves, coyotes and other animals, we should have our greatest predator return to the US as well.

[@AubreyCasler-c3p]

When will predators be reintroduced to the Gulf Coast, we’re always overlooked. Bring back our red wolves, black bears(they are here but in sparse patches), and cougars

[@notsosilentmajority1]

@@AubreyCasler-c3p It would be great if we could reintroduce all of the animals we've chased out of places in the US.

[@Maputi_na_Kalabaw]

Until one eats a child anyway. ​@@notsosilentmajority1

[@AchyParts]

I never considered how The Wall™ could have an ecological impact on the Southwest among its other impacts, hopefully the Madrean sky island jaguars can continue to thrive here without being separated from the rest of their species thanks to human shenanigans.

[@haven_lady675]

Lol the trademark 😂

[@HowlFromBeyond]

If they want to immigrate into this country they need to come through a legal port of entry. I'm tired of hard working pumas losing jobs to undocumented jaguars.

[@angelaraber]

If they can't find unrelated partners to mate with they will suffer from inbreeding. That is why wildlife corridors are essential for their survival.

[@mattacedo]

I am a coyote hunter and can tell you there are less coyotes on the border since the wall went it… border used to be crawling with them

[@ichrised]

I don't think they can build a wall on 10,000ft tall sky Islands

[@robertcook5201]

Two friends and I are absolutely sure we saw a Jaguar east of Elgin Az. while we were prospecting in October 1998.

[@alyssafigliano3994]

At the zoo I volunteer at our jaguar and cougars habitats are right next to each other in an area called 'Big Cat Country'. Both habitats are based on the deserts of the southwestern US, and our info boards show their full range, Arizona and New Mexico included. It often surprises people that these are all-American cats, and it's my favorite fact about them I share. :)

[@chrishandle2]

Jagwire at 0:17

[@Jules24122]

im so sorry but jaguar*

[@titanofserpents4315]

Great video! I had actually seen a reddit post a while ago that went over accounts of potential jaguars in different places in the US from the past several hundred years.

[@timeshark8727]

Its hardly surprising. Jaguars are extremely powerful and supremely stealthy on top of being quite adaptable. They should do well enough in any habitat with sufficient prey and enough water that doesn't get too cold. They could likely hunt anything smaller than adult male black bear with little trouble.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Agreed!

[@JoshTrager-j9g]

That's right!

[@stfuplsok]

Capybaras and caimans are no problem. The only thing they are afraid to prey on is a group of giant river otters.

[@paulferrell6198]

Great video, I subscribed. I live in jaguar territory so far I have not seen one. (I’m getting a trail cam soon). Next video PLEASE LEAVE THE MAPS ON SCREEN FOR A LONGER TIME. It takes a minute to look them over. Keep up the good work. Thank you.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Will do and thanks for the sub

[@Midnightmidway]

Why would he do that when you can use that new thing they have called a PAUSE BUTTON

[@BassAngler2020]

Appreciate the info Debo. These review videos you make are what I look forward to.

[@jeffinkhobar5711]

I listened all the way to the end waiting to hear the most important information which is utility: which invasive species population could jaguars help us control? The nutria in Louisiana? Wild pigs/hogs? I’m no biologist, but that seems like a very important topic to cover in your initial video about any predator re-introduction. That’s my suggestion, anyway.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Yeah I do wish I went over the benefits of reintroducing jaguars more as they would certainly help combat invasive species issues.

[@ScanovatheCarnotaurus]

Studies do show that feral hogs make up a decent portion of Jaguar diet in South America, so it wouldn't be much of a surprise if they do n the US too.

[@waltertodd4479]

Why do we need another predator at the top. Why not bring back the Grizzly or T-Rex too? When does all the silliness stop?

[@katttttttpaige]

Wild pigs destroy Arkansas

[@indyreno2933]

Interestingly, the jaguars in Mexico and the Southern parts of the United States like Arizona are in fact the last remaining populations of the North American Jaguar (Jaguarius onca augustus), a jaguar subspecies once thought to be extinct, but it still exists today only in Southern North America, it is considered larger than the jaguars in Central and South America and is considered the most basal of the four jaguar subspecies, with the Central American Jaguar (Jaguarius onca centralis) being the second most basal and the two most derived jaguar subspecies being the Amazon Jaguar (Jaguarius onca onca) and the Andean Jaguar (Jaguarius onca peruvianus) with the latter having a fossil population in Patagonia.

[@Tungdil_01]

Do you mean Panthera onca?

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

The suggestion that the subspecies in Northern Mexico and the U.S. currently is Panthera Onca Augusta is highly debated. Tbh I think it’s its own subspecies separate from Panthera Onca Augusta but I could be wrong as I’m no biologist. Also I should have mentioned the other Jaguar subspecies in the video.

[@indyreno2933]

@, no, the jaguar along with the extinct american lion and yucatan leopard all now belong to the genus Jaguarius, which is most closely related to the bohebaos (genus Neofelis), the next closest living relatives would be the tiger and ounce that are the only two extant species of the genus Uncia.

[@indyreno2933]

@, currently, there are only four valid jaguar subspecies: the North American Jaguar (Jaguarius onca augusutus), the Central American Jaguar (Jaguarius onca centralis), the Amazon Jaguar (Jaguarius onca onca), and the Andean Jaguar (Jaguarius onca peruvianus) with the north american jaguar being a living fossil currently endemic to Northern Mexico and some parts of the Southern United States and the extinct patagonian jaguar being a fossil population of the andean jaguar.

[@whateverrandomnumber]

As far as I'm aware, there's only one species of panthera onça alive today. The augusta subspecies lived in the pleistocene and is now extinct. Panthera onça palustris has been proposed recently, but it was rejected because there are no known jaguar subspecies alive today. They're all the same species.

[@vinskeeter]

I saw a large black cat from about 50' away, 10 years ago in Pueblo West, Colorado. I just saw the back hips and the long swooping tail as it went behind a bush. Then, about 5 years ago, my niece saw an entire large black cat from a much longer distance, (same one?). She was only 1/2 mile from my sighting.

[@howardferguson5560]

I'm a professional hunting guide in Arizona. There has been quite a few spotted by other professionals like myself. Many on video. We don't disclose their location because there are idiots that would poach them. There is more than eight lol. Three years ago we got two that appeared to be a breeding pair on trailcam video.

[@suzystone244]

Jaguars are the second most elusive of the big cats. Snow leopard is the first most elusive. Having jaguars naturally coming back.... let them be.❤

[@Sapioso]

Jags and Snow Leopards are the most special cats living today. They’re awesome!

[@GreysonPlaisance]

When you mentioned them in Mississippi and in Louisiana, it gave a bit more credence to the stories that my uncle from southern Arkansas used to tell me about a "black panther" that he would have to scare away from his cattle every couple of years. He swore up and down until he passed away that it was black. I was hunting deer on his cattle property early one morning. Before the sun came up, I heard a big cat scream up in the hills behind me. I immediately jumped on the four wheeler and went back to the house!

[@kelteckin]

Yep in the bluffs of Mississippi almost everyone has dealt with one even though on paper theyre not here.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Yeah it is possible they are there. I want to make a future video on that

[@replynotificationsdisabled]

Aren't some cougar melanistic?

[@kelteckin]

@replynotificationsdisabled man all we know is there big ass black cats and we call them panthers most of the time lol

[@UmongusSussehFrusseh]

They’re most likely jaguarundis

[@jancyvargheese5351]

Beautiful and majestic cats. I hope jaguars are reintroduced to the Us southern states again ❤❤❤

[@jameswilliams2075]

The reintroduction of jaguars could help with the feral livestock proplem found in the southern US too

[@metalmamasue3680]

Absolutely, they would go after feral hogs and help take some of them out, at least. Especially the younger ones and they breed like crazy.

[@bigaaron]

Very much enjoyed this video. Subbed

[@Nizhoni_pony]

As an Arizona resident, I've been waiting for someone to talk about it

[@KennethBoston-wh4pe]

My family and I were camping at Stove pipe national park in the mid 60s. There were lots of Quatimundy and Peccary. My father and I walked up a little hill right outside of our camp. There was a big male Jaguar about twenty feet from us. He just stretched and walked into the brush,he had an irritated look on his face. My father and I just stood there for a few minutes to process what just happened. We informed the camp ranger and he was a little pissed off about it. He said that he worked in and around the park for several years and the only thing he saw, were pug marks and here we saw a big beautiful jaguar about an hour or so after arriving at our campsite. Hahaha 😂. It was an awesome site and I will remember that experience for the rest of my life. I've seen plenty of Cougars and Bobcats and that Jaguar, was the biggest cat I've ever seen. They need to be protected and respected. Peace on the path ✌️

[@outthewayna4407]

Im sorry maybe its me but am I the only one just completely in shock that the jaguar just completely dragged that massive cattle out of sight (time stamp 8:10) with the help in the steep incline btw. Wow just really shows how powerful these cats are. Also I think there needs to be a conversation on the whole “size” thing as the 200-220 lb jaguar conversation is pretty null and void. Its average, but even in recent years with jaguars that has been changing. Jaguars are basically lioness sized cats with the larger specimens. Look up joker, edno, and Adriano. They are jaguar specimens, no not every jaguar gets this size but because we know jaguars can reach weights of 330lbs and max at around 350 I feel like people need to know that information. These cats can truly get massive

[@SeasidePrincess]

Great video! Thanks for sharing this info! There are big cats in North Alabama in the mountains. As I kid my granddad would point out their calls late at night when we were camping out. Then in the morning we would go walking and looking for the signs - footprint tracking. It is like you said the sky islands are where they are. In ‘94 in April I saw a black one walk out of the woods from a sky island area down to a stocked fishing pond. I thought it was a dog but realized that it wasn’t moving like a dog but a cat! It was crazy! Then it went back into the woods.

[@arneliashort4647]

I live in Louisiana. My Dad told me he saw a black panther in the woods one day. Totally believe him

[@BolognaYT]

Being someone who lives around and constantly hikes the Sky Islands.. loved the video!

[@nathancuellar4403]

In my lifetime , on southern Texas ranches I have seen 4 big cats . Three cougars and one black panther. I seen the big black cat driving down a dirt road way up ahead about a few hundred yards. It crossed the road very slowly and when it got half way several kittens ran out across the road to catch up to her .

[@grafirleitejunior3945]

The map that shows the presence of jaguars in Brazil is wrong (1;24"). Where I live, they appear extinct on the map, but security cameras always capture them... It is a wonderful animal, the true "Queen of the Jungles", but very elusive. There's a popular saying around here: "You go through life and never see a jaguar. When you see one, you don't have the opportunity to tell anyone"...

[@selinamularz9194]

I saw a Jaguar in the foothills of the whetstone mountains in southern Arizona back in 2004. It was only visible for a few seconds but the spots were clear. I didn't know they lived here until I was talking to a park ranger about the crazy sighting a while later.

[@chelleyroberts]

This reminds me of how long Arkansas fish and wildlife kept denying that there were mountain lions/cougars/panthers in the Ozark mountains. Even when we caught them on trail cams. When one got hit by a truck they said it was “just passing through, migrating to so where suitable to live.” Okay? What do they need to live? “They prefer wooded or hilly terrain with plenty of game” All of us look around at theOzark Freaking Mountains with lots of woodlands and loads of wild game. Migrating. Riiiiiiiiight.

[@JeffHuntsinger]

I'm 60 and Ive deer hunted southern Arizona for my whole life. I've seen Jaguars on 2 occasions while hunting. That was about 45 minute drive south east of Tucson

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Neat I’m sure many are jealous

[@renaissanceredneck73]

My grandfather, who grew up in Jay, Oklahoma in the 1930s and 40s swears, an old trapper brought in to town a big cat pelt, with spots. He said he was about 10 so it would have been 1940ish. Only cat big or otherwise in the Americas with spots is a bobcat (sort of). And jaguars 🐆.

[@dangerousdylan6262]

Ocelot also has spots, is native to North America and is the most probable explanation.... sorry but it wasnt a jaguar

[@MakuluRihihi]

Great Video Gavin!

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Thanks

[@pixiebubbles2628]

I'm in AZ & can confirm these animals are coming back. It's exciting but does have some concerns. My uncle had spotted a coati in his backyard, I think last year? He shared a photo of it with me and others to help him ID the animal. I'm pretty certain it had come to his yard because his wife/my aunt grows fruit trees & the most delicious figs I've ever had. So I can totally see why little dude was there. And then a neighbor who lives near my dad's property further north of AZ had reported a jaguar or large black cat having killed a dog the same neighbor owned. My dad had installed cameras to his own property recently, but so far, there have been no sightings of the big cat yet. We're not entirely sure if it's still in the area or had moved on.

[@g-man4297]

Amazing how the trail cam's get clear photos of an extremely rare and elusive animal like the Jaguar, yet the photos and film of the seemingly less rare Big Foots and the like are always fuzzy, blurred and photoshopped.

[@AtropalArbaal-dk8jv]

Not sure if you're trolling, but Bigfoot ain't real In order for a species to remain viable and not implode from mutations and birth defects, local populations must be at least 1,000 or more individuals. The only species that hasn't gone extinct due to inbreeding, is the cheetah.

[@mommytsunami]

So cool. Was working on a trail crew in southern AZ right along the border about 12 years ago and had a border patrol guy show us some photos of a jaguar one of their cams had gotten

[@jillking5876]

What an excellent presentation! You made a lot of great points with a bit of education as well, and I truly enjoyed hearing your video. I would definitely love to see jaguars come home. We need our apex predators to police our wilderness areas for ecological balance. Looking forward to more episodes!

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Thanks

[@marleymars2223]

Love the video great points here. Glad you have the right attitude, of protection. Large predators in the U.S. are really not a danger as long as you know how to properly avoid and interact with them if you come across them.

[@XC797]

I know someone who saw a Jaguar in his front yard. It was a black Jaguar. This was at the end of Cloud Road off of Sabino Canyon in Tucson Az . It is near a wash and mountains .

[@floridacracker7789]

Florida Panthers need the same respect in my opinion.

[@Fletcherbird]

Oh this is cool! Personally, I would like to see encouragement of natural recolonization rather than reintroduction. I don’t want U.S jaguars to meet the fate of being confined to non essential experimental zones like Mexican Gray Wolves and Red wolves are. If they come back to their native ranges naturally, we can protect them more. Think yellow stone wolves vs the wolves in Washington Montana etc.

[@yoitslu]

amen preach brotha 🙏🏼 great video i love the message ur sending with this

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Thanks 🙏

[@Trundlebugg]

I wonder if the northern subspecies had any colour of other adaptations to the different bioms? Not something if researched but interesting. Just thinking about the Javan tiger being comparable to the extant southern jaguar so I wonder if there were some paler and more hairy variants at their most northerly reach. Fluffy tails maybe? I can see the recolonisation of jaguars in the US to be a potential success with a bit of thoughtful help to bring people along with it. Here in the uk the biggest debates are over Lynx and wolves, very different conversation due to how little space there is and issues like methods of livestock protection successful elsewhere not being possible here. Maybe in a few decades but at present the closest we could get is something more like an open game reserve, highly managed and not so self sustaining. Great video, hope there’s a part 2 😃

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

@@Trundlebugg very interesante idea I never thought about that before. Hopefully because the US has so much land area they can fully return one day. Also thanks I’m really hoping this video does well enough to justify a part 2 as well.

[@itzzmadness-_-6712]

seeing wolves in the UK region after like 2000 years would be kinda cool as well as black bears

[@NoahGabel-i9b]

​@@itzzmadness-_-6712and brown bears and boar

[@GBuaccc]

As an american of mexican descent, i think it’s great. Historically, the Jaguar held the same esteem as Jesus Christ to our ancestors so we should be respectful of their habitation.

[@johnbland1422]

About 20 years ago East of FT Worth TX, several ranchers say there was a Jaguar. TX biologiests said, it wasn't a jaguar. Around the same time AZ was saying the same thing. There were reports of jags in AZ also.

[@carywest9256]

I remember a Nat.Geo. magazine issue about 20 yrs.ago a having trail cameras set up where AZ./N.M.- MEX. all meet west of the Continental Divide. And on the same boulder there is one standing.

[@smoothcannon]

Beautiful, majestic big cats! I think it might be safer for them in South America, but unfortunately, they might face the same dangers as bobcats and lynx from trappers and hunters. I wish the best for those eight jaguars 🐆!🙏🙏🙏 🤞

[@margomoore4527]

My parents lived in Sedona, in the Verde Valley. Back in the 70’s and early ‘80’s, there were no jaguars (that I saw), but I did spot a jaguarundi, hunting at night. I know official sources say there are no jaguarundis in Arizona, and it’s possible they have left due to increased development.

[@kls2020]

I read an article about cattle ranchers in the late 1800's around Gilroy California that had shot a couple of Jaguars that had been killing their cattle . Included was a copy of an old photo of the ranchers posing with the dead jaguars hanging from a tree . They were huge .

[@alancastro4021]

I worked in Gilroy in 2018-2019 we did a vegetative restoration job and set up some irrigation up by Canada rd we use to see big cats that looked like Tigers that would take down cattle every week or 2 the cat I seen looked like a tiger it was massive didn't not look like a mountain lion I

[@williambaugus927]

So beautiful! My second favorite big cat behind tigers. I am really glad not to live in tiger country though

[@jamesskinner4752]

The truth about jaguars in the US is that they’re supposed to be there. There’s an entire animal history of the world that shows how animals we associate with some regions used to be in other regions until human expansion happened. Wild lions used to be in Europe, tigers used to be in the Middle East, wolves in the south.

[@asbosable]

Let’s just hope the people of the area value this awesome creature instead of blowing it out of existence again.

[@cameroonkendrick6312]

There used to be a huge tropical rainforest in the United States in the Appalachian mountains when it was warmer, there are still remnants of it in Florida in the form of “tropical hammocks”, and as the Earth warms again these tropical species will head north

[@Whereisfreddy]

Thanks for the research

[@jackcountryman9192]

Please please do another video on each individual jaguar found in the US. Maybe some further explanations on how they get sighted as well

[@bonniebowers1621]

The Santa Ritas are near Green Valley, AZ, just south of Tucson. I live near the foothills of the Huachuca Mountains in Sierra Vista, AZ. Jaguars and ocelots have both been photographed on trail cams in the Huachucas. ❤

[@ryancole8892]

BRING EM BACK

[@taylorbierman4014]

Really cool video, I really feel like I learned a lot, and not just about jaguars. I also think it would be really cool to have a stable breeding population of jaguars in the US because they are one of my favorite animals.

[@Razor-gx2dq]

As long as it doesn't eat me, cool.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

😂 you should be fine… probably

[@Cool_Kid95]

@@GavinTheWildlifeGuy I'M JUST SCARED FOR MY SKIN

[@yourheroes5874]

They’re the only big cat that has the lowest attack on humans. They typically stay away from us

[@artawhirler]

​@@Cool_Kid95 Don't worry. It's the jaguar's skin that people want. 😂

[@JoshTrager-j9g]

​@@artawhirlerThey better not even think about it.

[@denyel_]

2020 made wildlife bloom in that short time i’ve noticed. Javalinas, coyotes and cougars are spotted way more often in my AZ city now

[@phishENchimps]

Bring back breeding pairs and release them on Native Reservations. Pay the Nations to watch, care for the land to keep the environment healthy for them.

[@PantheraOnca60]

Good, informative video! One correction:The jaguar has the strongest bite of any big cat - _pound for pound_. Tigers and lions have stronger bite forces overall.

[@danle3181]

Finally someone who speaks the truth !!! 👍

[@tonyprice2256]

Especially tigers.

[@julieworkman1664]

Thank you

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Your welcome 😊

[@matthewwelsh294]

Seems like the only people in general who dislike predators are ranchers and old people. We need these predators, or the prey animals would eat everything

[@no.one.spec1al]

Fr

[@toogie6267]

You must live deep in a city or have no pets. Suburbs are ripe with easy prey.

[@TrollBot.]

High in the Mountains of Norther Mexico the locals say the Mexican Grizzly is still thriving.

[@rickmeans328]

Grizzly Adams was a true old west character, except he wasn't much like the character portrayed on television. He was mauled quite severely by a female jaguar while trying to steal her cubs. This happened in Kern County, California!

[@tonyprice2256]

Interesting.

[@_Killinit_]

Facinating! Great video!

[@Neevkl_7]

My fav of the big cats

[@richardhill3122]

Idaho hosts a vertebrate paleo site called Jaguar Cave. Yes, remains of a jaguar were found there, along with other Pleistocene mammals.

[@michaelhatcher4097]

Good. Protect them.

[@toogie6267]

Unless someone is deep in a city or without pets, even suburbs are easy prey grounds.

[@mayetorresfineart8626]

If they’re in Arizona, they must be in California, New Mexico and Texas. They sure are beautiful animals. We need to protect them, it is their planet too. How many animals have gone extinct since 1970? According to one site 60% of animal populations have been wiped out since 1970. The last white rhino on earth died in 2018.

[@showmemorefunthings9208]

That's awesome! It would be great to see a reintroduction of the Jaguar throughout the US.

[@luisreloade16]

A new era, that would be marvelous

[@LemThurdy420]

10:58 Xcaret?! What an amazing place. I hope they do as much good as it seems.

[@necro7381]

Will we get the Black Caiman video or nah? If so, make sure to get the right info!!

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

@@necro7381 yes right now the goal is Monday Also I am very suprised for how many of you guys wanted that video.

[@waxwinged_hound]

I didn't know there were sky islands in Arizona, and I didn't know we had resident jaguars either. That's incredible. I saw this video in my recommended and I got really excited and said "oh please let this be true!"

[@Akimikinaak]

You gained a sub on this one

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Thanks

[@frankmorris4790]

And don't you worry it's only the THIRD LARGEST big cat, right behind the African lion and the Indian Tiger. you can bet the sweet voiced little lad doing the narration has never been off the pavement. it gets different when you live with em.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

😂 you certainly haven’t seen my old KZbin shorts where I play with snakes and gators for fun Trust me dude I’ve spent more time outdoors than you have. I’m not a big cat expert I’ll admit that, but I have plenty of hands on experience with wildlife and I know more than what meets the eye.

[@antonhuijskens5697]

THEY ARE SO CUTE

[@RogerStephens-t9d]

Back around 1994 I saw a black one cross the railroad tracks in CALDWELL COUNTY,KY. and it was close enough to be unmistakable a black panther or similar cat !!!!

[@Whatsahandle779]

Beautiful and frightening

[@The_Infamous_Bonker]

Hey those are my jags. They broke free from their cages- er, I mean sanctuary. Don't worry, I'll get them back so they don't hurt anybody.

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Ok Joe Exotic

[@The_Infamous_Bonker]

@GavinTheWildlifeGuy I'm more of an underground Steve Irwin 😂

[@PerfectCell.475]

of course dude ronin with the ai generated profile is apparently a jaguar owner

[@themomandthemaverick]

I live in Michigan north of Lansing and we have seen cougars on trail cams posted by locals overvthe past few years. I found this very interesting since I knew our state had bobcats but didnt know we had cougars. I would have expected them more north where it is hilly. We are farm land here. We also have a population of wolves in the northern lower peninsula that hadn't been know to still naturally populate the area. Since people killed them off back in the day. They think they crossed Lake Michigan during a freeze from the UP of Michigan. Or we just didnt know they were still here. Very interesting stuff.

[@GeneralGoji]

I actually recently researched how far jaguars went during the ice age, I actually did some art of a jaguar fighting a short faced bear over a caribou, the ice age was so odd huh?

[@jamessparkman6604]

Do you know I think it’s a great idea too for what it’s worth we can encourage the South American jaguar to evolve into another North American jaguar which was much bigger

[@Devboul]

Thank You for bringing another great video

[@GavinTheWildlifeGuy]

Thanks

[@JosueLorenzo-u9o]

Please a video about the insular dwarfism in Florida keys with the key deer , key racoon and other

[@joeyandres]

Spoke to a local in Celestun few weeks ago and mentioned that in COVID, when no vehicles to deter the Jaguars, a lot of locals were killed ("mucho" he said in a morose tone). I am confused. Is he lying? How good are our stat collection on human fatality? Anyways, great vid. Excited for all these reintroduction in general.