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Survival and cause-specific mortality estimates are needed to develop effective conservation strategies for the endangered ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the United States. We radiomonitored 80 ocelots (36 F, 44 M) from 1983 to 2002 and analyzed survival and cause-specific mortality rates. Pooled estimates of annual survival rates differed between resident (Ŝ = 0.87) and transient (Ŝ = 0.57) ocelots (P = 0.02); therefore, survival and cause-specific mortality analyses were partitioned for resident and transient ocelots. Sex-specific annual survival was similar between resident ocelots (M = 0.92, F = 0.83, P = 0.16) and transient ocelots (M = 0.53, F = 0.63, P = 0.75). Most mortalities were from human (e.g., ocelot-vehicle collisions; M = 45%) and natural (e.g., animal attack, disease; M = 35%) sources. Transient ocelots had higher natural mortality rates (disease, intraspecific mortality; M = 0.26) than resident ocelots (M = 0.04, P = 0.03). Other sources of mortality did not differ (P ≥ 0.10) between resident or transient ocelots or male and female resident or transient ocelots (P ≥ 0.08). Human population expansion within the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas, USA, will increase transportation-related problems and decrease the quantity of ocelot habitat, leading to increased ocelot-vehicle collisions and possibly cause more transient behavior, thus significantly lowering ocelot survival. Research and development of ocelot road underpasses should be conducted to mitigate ocelot-vehicle collisions. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 69(1):255-263; 2005

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is an endangered cat native to south Texas. Urbanization and agricultural development have resulted in limited and fragmented habitat, making ocelot habitat restoration an important factor in the cat's recovery. We evaluated the use of United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) soil surveys to identify potential restoration sites by examining ocelot habitat use in south Texas from [1982][1983][1984][1985][1986][1987][1988][1989][1990]. We analyzed an 8-year data set of ocelot radiotelemetry locations using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Bailey's confidence intervals. Ocelots selected habitat with dense (>95%) canopy cover more than open (<75%) canopy cover. Ocelots also selected Camargo, Lardeo, Olmito, and Point Isabel soil series in greater proportion than available. The selected soils also represented 82% of the selected dense canopy cover areas. Our results suggest that USDA-NRCS soil survey maps can be used as a tool for identifying potential areas for ocelot habitat restoration.

Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are listed as endangered federally and by the state of Texas. Preference for closed canopy habitat has been shown in previous studies, but preference for patch size has not been reported. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite imagery were used to compare areas in south Texas used by radio-collared ocelots to areas with no known use. We hypothesized that ocelots would prefer large patches of closed canopy habitat and avoid large patches of unsuitable habitat. Areas used by ocelots had a greater degree of fragmentation (i.e., larger number of patches, smaller size, and more edge) than did those not used. Further investigation revealed that ocelots preferred patches of closed canopy over other types of land cover and that this land cover type exhibited a greater degree of fragmentation. Results of this study were used to designate areas for conservation of ocelot habitat and can be applied to the management of other threatened or endangered wildlife. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 69(2):733-738; 2005