Mexican Jaguar Scared Both of Us

by Paul Farris
(Ramona, Ca. 92065)

Black Jaguar in Xcaret, Mexico - photo added by Michael (Admin) to illustrate page - photo by sunface13

Black Jaguar in Xcaret, Mexico - photo added by Michael (Admin) to illustrate page - photo by sunface13

July 1985: I was checking riding trails on the ranch I lived on, Poway stables, Poway Ca. We rent horses for trail riding. One of our guides a 15 yr old girl thought she had seen something near the small pond. At that time of year the pond was all but dried up. I had driven out in my pick-up and got out and walked down the creek bed which had tall thick rushes on one side.

As I turned a sharp bend in the trail I froze, 20ft. in front of me stood frozen a black cat. This cat turned and ran down the trail about 60ft. and went up a hill into a thick stand of trees.

This cat stood about 2ft. tall and was about 6 to 8ft. long. I wasn't sure what I had seen and questioned our local game warden. He had no answers. I found my answer in a book of North American game animals.

What I had seen was a Mexican jaguar. I later got the game warden to admit that they had several sightings in the last month.

Paul Farris


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Photo: Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license.

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Mexican Jaguar Scared Both of Us

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Aug 09, 2011
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That black jaguar is in a Cancun zoo
by: Anonymous

That black jaguar is in a Cancun zoo


Jun 02, 2010
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Jaguars in California
by: Akile

It is entirely possible. We do not know the wanderings of wildlife as well as we might think. Everything is on the table. There could be Jags in Baja Cali just like THERE ARE Mountain Lions in the region. The prey base of both cats are essentially the same' Until a REMOTE CAMERA CATCHES ONE ON THE California SIDE OF THE BORDER "Jags" are exterminated in California. At some point in time US wildlife authorities will actually stock 10 Jaguars in the Mountains of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. We are speaking of a total of 40 cats in all. It could be done with a captive breeding the program program similar to the California Condor.


Nov 11, 2009
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Out of range
by: Michael (PoC Admin)

As the Mexico jaguar's most northerly range is about 200 miles south of the Mexico/USA border this jaguar must be wandering miles out of range. Are there jaguars in Southern Calif? The experts say it is no longer found in the USA. Or am I wrong?


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