A trail camera in remote southern Arizona has captured multiple sightings of a grown male jaguar—called “Jaguar Number Four” by researchers—crossing into the United States through the San Rafael Valley wildlife corridor. His appearance is a rare and thrilling event, signaling that parts of the Southwest may still support one of the world’s most elusive big cats.
A Glimmer of Hope, But Their Migration Path is Under Threat
The jaguar was photographed at least five times since early July by the University of Arizona’s Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center. This isn’t his first appearance—he’s believed to be the same cat spotted in 2023 and early 2024. His ability to navigate north from Mexico into Arizona shows that this corridor is still functioning, at least for now.
However, wildlife advocates fear his path may soon be blocked. A 27-mile border wall expansion, slated to begin later this month, would cut directly through this key migration route. The Center for Biological Diversity and Conservation CATalyst has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, challenging environmental waivers that allow construction without the usual reviews.
Why This Matters to Our Planet
Jaguars once roamed as far north as the Grand Canyon and east into Louisiana, but in the past 30 years, only a handful of males have been documented in the U.S.—always in Arizona and always wandering in from Mexico. The last known female jaguar in the U.S. was killed in 1963.
That makes each confirmed sighting a conservation milestone and a reminder that these apex predators are not entirely gone from the American landscape. The footage also raises a larger question: can the U.S. balance border security with protecting its last remaining wildlife corridors?
See It for Yourself
The trail cam clips compiled by The Arizona Republic show the jaguar strolling through rugged grasslands under the cover of night, its spotted coat flashing in the infrared glow. For wildlife lovers, it’s more than just remarkable footage—it’s a rare look at a species many Americans thought they’d never see here again.
Jill Schildhouse has 25 years of experience as a journalist, regularly contributing travel and cruise content to U.S. News & World Report, Reader’s Digest, AARP, The Points Guy, and more.