Ocelots:
Distinguishing characteristics:
• Small cat-like animal with distinct spots
• Long, ringed tail that is nearly one-third the length of its body
• Slightly rounded ears
• Prefers dense brush, where it hunts for birds, snakes and rodents
• Endangered: ocelots used to be found from South Texas up into Arkansas and
Louisiana. Today, there are less than 50 ocelots left in the U.S. and all are
found in the lower Rio Grande Valley
What to do if you see an ocelot (alive OR dead):
Immediately contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
(956)784-7520 ~ (956)784-7608 ~ (956)748-3607 ~ (956)784-7500
After Hours (956) 874-4664
Provide important information, including:
Your name and a phone number where you can be reached; location, time and type
of sighting (alive or dead); identifying marks that confirm it was an ocelot and not a
bobcat; directions on how to get to the location; and a detailed description of the
area.
If you find a dead ocelot:
If you can, please stay with the carcass until FWS staff arrive. If you are not able
to stay, please move the carcass so that it is not visible to passersby and FWS
can retrieve. Be sure to let FWS know exactly where to find the carcass so they
can retrieve it and collect important information such as internal tags and genetics.
Bobcats
Distinguishing characteristics:
• Light brown to gray coat. Might have spots on coat but they are more subtle
• Short tail
• Tufted ears. More pointed than ocelot with tuft of hair
• Larger than an ocelot
• Found in various habitat types, including forest, coastal, wetlands, as well as near urban areas
• Common throughout the U.S.
How to tell an ocelot from a bobcat:
Typical coat pattern of an ocelot
Rounded ears on ocelot
Long, ringed tail on ocelot
Typical coat pattern of a bobcat
Pointed and tufted ears on bobcat
Short, bobbed tail on bobcat
What to do if you see an ocelot (alive OR dead):
Immediately contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
(956)784-7520 ~ (956)784-7608 ~ (956)748-3607 ~ (956)784-7500
After Hours (956) 874-4664
