Jaguarundi: Lifestyle

Habitat

Central and South America are the home of the jaguarundi.

Jaguarundis live in dense shrubbery and thickets, and on the edge of forests. They are rarely found on open land, and even then, only near to bushes or dense ground cover.

Lifestyle

General

Jaguarundi are ground dwellers. They swim well, and have no fear of water. They don't usually climb, but when they do, they don't climb very high. They seem to prefer eating birds (including domestic poultry), but will also eat many other small animals, such as rodents, frogs, insects, and fish. They have sometimes been known to eat fruit.

Reproduction

These felines are solitary, except during the breeding season. Gestation lasts for about 60 to 75 days. In each litter, 2-4 blind and helpless young are born. In the tropical regions, breeding is not seasonally restricted. In other regions, breeding happens twice a year, in March and August (this could be the same females having two litters a year, or two different groups of females having one litter a year). The cubs are weened at about 2 months. After this, the mother will teach them how to hunt, and look after themselves. Cubs usually gain full independence at about 10 months old. Sexual maturity is reached at about 2-3 years old.

Domestic Life

The jaguarundi can be tamed. In the past, it was used by the native population of South and Central America to control rodents. Today, domestic jaguarundis are more likely to be found in zoos.

Conservation

Due to it's plain coat, and lack of popularity as a pet, the jaguarundi has never been hunted excessively. However, the habitat of the jaguarundi is being destroyed, and in some areas it is thought to be extinct or endangered. In the USA, the subspecies F.y. cacomitli, and F.y. tolteca are listed as endangered. They were first listed on June 14, 1976.

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