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"jaguars my ass. build the dang fence"
Posted on 03/25/2008 12:01:18 PM PDT by kingattax
SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS, Arizona (Reuters) - Jaguar biologist Emil McCain stoops over a remote-sensing camera attached to a tree in these rugged mountains a few miles to the north of the Arizona-Mexico border.
The researcher is checking for images of a handful of extremely rare jaguars that prowl up from Mexico over mountain trails in some of the wildest country in the southwest, although they are now under threat.
Scrolling through images of bobcats and deer snapped by the camera, he explains how the habitat for one of the United States' most elusive predators is being pressured by illegal immigration from Mexico and the controversial remedies sought by the U.S. government to curb it: building fences.
In this election year, Washington hopes to complete 670 miles
of pedestrian fencing and vehicle barriers in a bid to seal off some of the most heavily crossed areas of the nearly 2,000-mile border, despite opposition from some landowners and environmentalists.
"The low flat valleys are effectively walled off to wildlife. As a result everything is funneled up through the high mountain ranges that span the border" McCain said, standing by the camera box in an area spotted with trash tossed by illegal immigrants.
"The border barriers are directly linked with the funneling
of people into the last remaining habitats. Jaguars are very solitary animals, they can't move freely where there are a lot of people."
SOLITARY HUNTERS
Jaguars are powerful, solitary hunters that were revered by ancient cultures including the Aztecs and the Maya who believed they had supernatural powers. They roam over a vast habitat ranging from northern Argentina in the south to the rugged, borderland wildernesses of Arizona and New Mexico, although they are rarely seen.
The sturdy, spotted cats -- which are the only roaring felines in the Americas -- were believed to have become extinct in the United States until an Arizona rancher photographed one he encountered while hunting mountain lions in the far southwest corner of New Mexico in 1996.
"It was unforgettable, probably the most exciting day I have had in my life," Warner Glenn said of his brush with the burly, roaring male jaguar, which his hounds briefly brought to bay on a pillar of rock in the Peloncillo Mountains.
Proof positive of their presence in the United States was gained six months later when another Arizona cougar hunter, Jack Childs, treed and photographed a second jaguar in the distant reaches of the Baboquivari Mountains southwest of Tucson.
"They were on the brink of extirpation and to find out they were still here was a really great thing," Childs said of the animal, another male, which his hounds chased up into an alligator juniper tree.
"It was indescribable, a life-changing experience. We tipped our hats to it, thanked it for the experience and it went on its way."
NO BREEDING POPULATION
Neither jaguars were harmed. The photographs taken by Glenn and Childs helped win federal protection for the animals as an endangered species the following year and stirred interest from researchers eager to find out about their population and movements.
Childs, his wife Anna Mary and McCain subsequently founded the Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project, a nonprofit which set up some 40 to 50 cameras to photograph jaguars roaming through a highland wildlife corridor in the southwest known as the "Sky Islands."
The mountainous archipelago linking Arizona with the Sierra Madre Mountains in northwest Mexico is a unique zone where temperate species like the wolf and black bear mingle with Neotropical animals such as the jaguar and coatimundi, a sociable raccoon-like animal sometimes mistaken for a monkey.
Over the past seven years researchers repeatedly photographed four or five jaguars. They found that all were males straying north from breeding populations in Mexico, a discovery with considerable implications for their survival in the U.S. southwest.
"Because there are no females and no reproduction, jaguars in the United States are totally dependent on cross-border movement," Said McCain. "That connectivity with Mexico is absolutely crucial."
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
As the construction of barriers continued to pressure that connectivity, the U.S. government decided at the start of the year to abandon the recovery of jaguar populations as a federal goal, further calling into question the future of the animals.
McCain says he is concerned that there is no conservation plan to protect the big cats and their core habitat in the United States, which, he says, leaves them increasingly vulnerable should any decision be taken in the future to secure remaining areas of the border with fencing.
"After the Border Patrol finishes securing the lowland areas they will be forced to extend those walls out across the mountain ranges and totally seal off any hopes of jaguars crossing back and forth," he says.
While jaguars would not die out as a species -- fewer than one percent of their total number live in the United States -- losing this elusive predator would signal a retreat on protecting this fragile borderland wilderness for posterity.
"The jaguar is a great emblem of wildness and an example of a healthy ecosystem," McCain said.
"It really inspires people and creates a sense of wonder at the natural world. And in today's world, we really need that."
(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Eddie Evans)
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"jaguars my ass. build the dang fence"
The Mexican jaguars are just doing jaguar things American jaguars won’t do.
If it wasn’t in print, it would be hard to believe.
Since th eSecure fence act did not cover many of the most rugged mountainous areas, this guy is likely blowing smoke out his piehole.
The Hell with a fence...
Build a dang wall!
What fence is the author alluding to? Even Chertoff has stated that he doesn’t like the idea of a physical fence.
Is this one of those scam species like the spotted owl which is actually a Mexican version that is not endangered and simply made its way north?
It would have to be a McCain making this statement. (no relation I imagine)
It is too bad the Jaguar habitat has to be messed with, but then this is simply one more casualty of the criminal activity of tens of millions of Mexican citizens.
Just once I’d like to see the blame placed sqarely where it belongs. JUST ONE FRICKEN TIME!
So are the coyotes, human ones that is.
Build a dang wall!
Hell with both. Just build platforms every two miles and put a Marine sniper on each platform.
replace them with virtual jaguars
If the Mexican Jaguars have guest worker cards I don’t have a problem being over here.
The American worker needs to go on the endanger species list...
I was wondering when someone would bring that up.
Jaguar is another name for Mountain Lion. They can jump over 10 feet in the air from a standstill and are nimble in very precarious places that are virtually unreachable for people without extensive gear. I’m pretty sure a fence that doesn’t reach rugged terrain won’t bother them.
BUILD THE FENCE!
Build the freakin fence in CA, AZ, and NM, then stock the Rio Grande with Nile Crocodiles.
“The Hell with a fence... “
Build a dang wall!”
The Hell with the wall....
Put in mine fields.
Yet another reason to stop illegal immigration. Looks like illegal immigration may result in the extinction of this fine animal.
Good point. I had wondered if the cats couldn’t jump the fences with ease. Your point about the mountainous areas with no fence was a good one.
Jaguars are like Marines, they “improvise, adapt & overcome.” LOL
BUILD THE FENCE!
Mountain Lion
Jaguar
“Jaguar biologist Emil McCain “
What a coincidence....
And what a bunch of BS. Send this idiot down there to clean up some of the garbage.
Blast from the past....how soon we forget....
John McCain Praises Pro-illegal Protests April 2006
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/4/2/120003.shtml
Sen. John McCain is praising the recent wave of pro-illegal immigration demonstrations, saying that if the protesters hang tough they will succeed in forcing Congress to liberalize immigration laws.
“If such demonstrations continue, I think we will have a bill for the President to sign soon,” the Arizona Republican told a New York City gathering on Friday sponsored by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform.
“The more debate, the more demonstrations, the more likely we will prevail,” McCain added, in quotes picked up by the New York Daily News.
“The people united will never be defeated!” other demonstrators chanted in Spanish. “We’re not going, but Bush can leave!” [snip]
That was always my story many moons ago when as a college student at NMSU I would make that weekly trip down into Juarez.
but did you drink the water ?
Soon El Chupacabra experts will whine about a fence hampering the ability of the Mexican urban legend to hunt goats.
LOL!
Are they tossing american prey or livestock to their families back home?
The enviroweenies just won’t give it up, will they?
This borders on the ridiculous!
Well, think what would happen if it actually *hit* a fence.
(I’d cry, for one thing.)
}:-)4
I think Jaguars are endangered, period.
Doesn’t matter. Build the damn fence.
Ha ha you said borders on a border fence thread.
Before this is over, I think McCain will be recognized to be the second Mexican President elected from the United States.
YEah, well grok THIS, Sunshine: WITHOUT that fence — virtual or physical — there’ll pretty soon BE no “U.S. jaguars” either; just plain “jaguars”.
I’m with the kid (who’s obviously home educated) perched on the flusher with the fishwrap; BUILD IT! NOW!
“U.S. jaguars threatened by Mexico border fence”
I thought jaguars were threatened by global warming? Or was it the ozone hole? Hmm...
The CONgress House Natural Resources Committee has a bill in it right now to declare a section of the AZ - Mexico border a “wilderness” area, i.e., no motorized vehicles allowed. This means a big ol’ welcome sign for illegals and drugrunners to come up into the US of A.
This wilderness area designation needs to be stopped.
Land Rights Network
From the American Land Rights Association:
Vote April 2 Encourages Illegal Immigration, Drug Smuggling in Wilderness
You must deluge your Congressman and the Members of the Natural Resources Committee and Homeland Security Committee with calls, faxes and e-mails. This must be an all out uprising by the grassroots. House Natural Resources Committee plans a vote Wednesday, April 2nd on two new Wilderness bills that threaten to expand illegal immigration and drug smuggling in Arizona on the border with Mexico and provide a freeway for illegal immigration.
The bills are HR 3287 and HR 2593. Both are available full text at www.landrights.org
The Grijalva Wilderness Border Bills are on a Fast Track and will substantially expand Illegal Immigration and drug smuggling. They will be voted on as part of an Omnibus Wilderness Bill in the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, April 2nd. Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV) is the Chairman. This session is called a Mark-Up. That means Vote in Committee.
The Grijalva Wilderness Border Bills (HR 3287 and HR 2593) are a threat to Homeland Security and basically a freeway for illegal aliens to sneak into the United States and provide an open pathway for drug smugglers.
Bill Summary: HR 3287 HR 3287 would create a new Forest Service Wilderness area on the border with Mexico. Because cars and other mechanical devices are prohibited, it makes policing a Wilderness Area to stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling very difficult. Where this Wilderness area is going is already the largest passageway for illegal immigration and drug smuggling in the US. The Wilderness Area will just make it far worse.
Bill Summary: HR 2593 HR 2593 prohibits the Border Patrol from working on Federal land. That means they will be prevented from operating inside the new Wilderness Area. This bill just helps illegals and drug smugglers who want to cross the border and get in the United States. Remember you can read both bills yourself by going to www.landrights.org. You can also see a rough map of the area in question.
Call CONgress and request the Natural Resources Committee to pull both HR 3287 and HR 2593 from the Omnibus Wilderness Bill to be voted on in Committee on Wednesday, April 2nd.
As Committee Chairman, the Committee Members almost always support their Chairman. We’ve included a complete list of the full Natural Resources Committee Members below. The bill will get a lot of support and some or most of the Parks Subcommittee Members are not aware of the threat to Homeland Security. -——The first bill is the Tumacacori Highland Wilderness Act of 2007 that creates a new Forest Service Wilderness Area in Arizona on the border with Mexico. This bill, HR 3287, creates a new Wilderness area exactly where a major illegal immigration traffic area and drug smuggling pathway already exists. The largest in the country. Technically the proposed Tumacacori Highland Wilderness Area is not “on the border with Mexico.” It is contiguous with the small, old, Pajarito Wilderness Area that is directly on the border and links the Pajarito Wilderness Area with Interstate 19 and the interior of the country. A freeway for illegal immigration and drug smuggling. -——We call HR 3287 the “Open Door Into Our US” or ODIOUS Act. -——If that was not enough, Rep. Grijalva has also introduced HR 2593 which would shackle the hands of the Border Patrol on Federal lands. -——
Believe it or not, Rep. Grijalva calls HR 2593 “The Boderlands Conservation and Security Act of 2007.” HR 2593 is full of cute phrasing and pretty words to throw the reader off as to its true intent. But you might as well just handcuff the Border Patrol on all Federal lands all along the Mexican Border. This bill will have a huge impact on the traffic of illegals and drugs if Congress should pass it. It even blocks the building of a fence along the border.
Tim Gaynor’s pro-illegal-alien oeuvre is substantial. Reuters must treasure him.
See my post No. 39.
I guess I was misleading. A Jaguar is in the Puma (Mountain Lion, Cougar, Panther) genus. Specific species are slightly different, but naming conventions tend to conflate the two.
Put in mine fields.
At least then the Jaguar’s would have something to eat. Although it would probably be followed by lots of heart burn and gas.
Only when they ran out of beer and tequila.
Looks like a potential `win-win’ situation to me: two-fences about 25’ apart running east/west—and filled with jaguars, mountain lions/pumas/cougars/ocelots and other assorted carnivorous wildcats.
With the virtual fencing cameras, we’re talking a new show on Fox Sat. night: `Listo? Andale Amigos!’
To hell with not building the fence! Build the fence, then trap female jaguars and turn them loose in areas where males have been seen. We don’t even have to set up blind dates - the cats can figure it out for themselves!
“Build a dang wall!”
Now that would be a FUNCTIONAL deterrent! “Escape From New York” comes to mind. Tunneling sensors, anti-aircraft emplacements, Border Guards with 24/7 deadly force authorization, remote control machine guns, and free Budwieser Beer dispensary machines on Mexico’s side as bait.
I saw one of those Saturday night.
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