A New Non-Invasive Technique to Survey Ocelots

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), largest of the spotted neotropical wild cats, ranges from northern Argentina northward to south Texas (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). Listed as an endangered species in the United States (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1982), the ocelot is jeopardized by loss of habitat and vehicular collisions. The only U.S. population of perhaps fewer than 100 ocelots occurs in south Texas where ocelots use fragmented patches of dense, thornscrub habitat mostly at night (Tewes and Everett 1986, Laack 1991).

Surveying the occurrence of this rare and elusive cat in such habitats is challenging yet vital to conservation efforts. John Weaver originally conceived the idea of enticing wild felids to rub on scented, studded pads to collect hair for DNA analysis and tested it successfully with lynx (in Turbak 1998). In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of this new, non-invasive technique for surveying ocelots in the dense, thorny habitats of south Texas. First, we observed and recorded the response of captive ocelots to scented rub pads. Then, we determined the response of wild ocelots including radio-collared individuals to scented rub pads over space and time.

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