On February 24, 2026, the long-standing mystery of the jaguarundi’s existence in the United States took a tantalizing turn as conservationists released new data from high-definition trail cameras along the Texas-Mexico border, documenting several sets of “uniquely slender” feline prints and blurry, low-light footage that could finally provide the “Class 1” evidence needed to prove this elusive cat has not been entirely extirpated. While the species hasn’t had a confirmed sighting in Texas since 1986, the recent flurry of “black longtail” reports from Seguin and Jefferson County has shifted scientific focus toward the possibility that these otter-like felines are reclaiming their historic territory through narrow gaps in the border wall, forcing a re-evaluation of current reintroduction plans and sparking a renewed “Jaguarundi Watch” that has wildlife enthusiasts and local ranchers scouring the dense, thorny scrublands for a glimpse of the rarest cat in North America.
Amazing news: Mexican gray wolves are rebounding.
Last year the number of endangered Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest grew by 33 bringing the wild population up to 319 individuals.This is an amazing feat considering just three decades ago there were zero roaming the wild.But these canines aren’t out of the woods yet: Despite population growth, they’re still struggling with genetic diversity and getting killed legally (and illegally.)Just this week, a newly revealed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service document showed that Catron County ranchers are allowed to kill any one endangered Mexican gray wolf who happens to be in the area of two grazing allotments near Quemado, New Mexico.Several wolf families are in the area, including a likely pregnant, genetically valuable female wolf.We cannot fully recover this species if they continue to be killed at the whims of the livestock industry.
We won’t stop fighting for these wolves. Learn more about our work to protect Mexican gray wolves
Wolf Distribution Across Europe (2017–2022)
More spread out than I thought.