Facts About Ocelots and How You Can Help Save Them

Shari has spent her career studying and advocating for the wild cats of the United States-Mexico borderlands, including the elusive and endangered ocelot. Learn some fun facts about ocelots, why they are endangered and how you can help save them in this Q&A.

Image

Larry Ditto

What is an ocelot?  

Ocelots are spotted wildcats that are slightly larger than a house cat and reside in the Western Hemisphere.

The origin of their name reflects the convergence of Indigenous and European cultures in the Americas during colonization. Tlalocelot is the name for ocelots in the Aztecs’ Nahuahtl language, while ōcēlōtl is a related Nahuatl word for jaguars. Europeans frequently assigned animals of the Western Hemisphere names similar to animals they were familiar with in the Eastern Hemisphere. For the ocelot, they translated tlalocelot as “field tiger” and it is believed the colonists misinterpreted and misassigned these terminologies.  

Where do ocelots live?

Ocelots live in a variety of vegetated habitats. In Central and South America, ocelots are found in tropical and subtropical rainforests. At the northernmost extent of their range in South Texas and northern Mexico, they reside in semi-arid Tamaulipan thorn forests (land dominated by short, spiny shrubs and trees). Ocelots depend on the dense vegetation for shelter, protection from predators, denning, raising young and hunting.

Image

Larry Ditto

What do ocelots eat?

Ocelots are opportunistic hunters, and their prey selection is determined by their fairly petite size. They will eat rodents, rabbits, young deer, birds, snakes, lizards and fish.

How do you tell ocelots apart from other wildcats, like bobcats in Texas and jaguars in Arizona?

Ocelots are a little smaller than bobcats and significantly smaller than jaguars. Ocelots are approximately 1-1.5 feet tall and weigh 15-35 lbs. Bobcats have longer legs, standing up to two feet tall, and have a less compact build, even though they weigh about the same amount. Jaguars are the only big cat of the Western Hemisphere reaching a maximum of over 200 lbs. and 2.5 feet at the shoulder.  

Image

There are also a few physical characteristics to help tell ocelots apart:

Pattern: Ocelots have a distinct black-outlined “chain rosette” spotted coat. These spots are more defined than a bobcats’ black spots. Jaguars also have rosette-shaped spots, but they are less elongated. Ocelots also have stripes on the top and sides of their head, whereas jaguars have smaller spots on their faces.

Tail: Ocelots have long, ringed tails. Bobcats have short, bobbed tails.

Ears: Ocelots have slightly rounded ears, whereas bobcats have more elongated and tufted ears.

How do images of an ocelot help us study and protect the species?

Camera trap photos and images submitted to scientists from rare sightings can help confirm the presence of ocelots. In 2023 a couple visiting Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Texas — where ocelots are known to live — shared their extraordinary sighting of a mother and kitten ocelot. Later the same year, a wildlife trail camera captured footage of an ocelot roaming the Huachuca mountains of southeastern Arizona.  

Image

Jake Strouf

So, there are ocelots in Texas?

Yes! Ocelots range throughout the Western Hemisphere, from southern Texas to northern Argentina. They used to live in more of the U.S. — throughout portions of the Southwest and into areas as far east and north as Arkansas and Louisiana — but today the only remaining breeding populations in the U.S. are in South Texas. These breeding populations are small, with fewer than 100 individuals estimated to remain in the state. Occasionally, a dispersing male from Mexico will appear in the borderlands of southern Arizona, but there is no established breeding population in that region.

Image

Becca Settele

Are ocelots endangered? What are their biggest threats?

Ocelots are listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Their biggest threat in the U.S. is the loss of habitat from expanding urbanization and roads. Industrial development, including liquid natural gas export facilities along the Gulf Coast, and SpaceX — a launch site for private space exploration — also cause significant disturbances and destruction of ocelot’s preferred habitat.

What is Defenders doing to save ocelots?

Defenders is working on the ground in South Texas to raise awareness of the presence of ocelots on the landscape and promote the best coexistence practices. We also engage in education and community outreach to bring awareness for their conservation needs.

One of the biggest community events Defenders co-hosts in Texas is the annual Ocelot Conservation Festival. This event brings Texans together to learn about these wildcats and how they can help save them.

How can our readers help save ocelots?

There are several ways you can help ocelots. To name a few:

1. Drive carefully. If you live in or are visiting areas where ocelots are known to roam, please stay alert and obey speed limits. Vehicular collisions are the leading cause of death for these cats in Texas. Simply watching for animals and stopping when it’s safe to do so can save a life!
2. Be a voice for ocelots. Ocelots can’t vote or hold representatives accountable for conserving habitat and imperiled species, but you can! Vote with wildlife in mind and speak up about policies that protect endangered species and their habitat.
3. Share the ocelots’ story. Learn more about ocelots and their threats. You can even get the kids involved with Defenders’ Bordercats/ Felinos de la Frontera, a bilingual booklet full of educational and fun activities for all ages. Then share what you’ve learned with your friends, family and followers. Raising awareness about these endangered cats can help empower others to take action too.