9 Animals You Might Not Know Are Native to the US

Ocelot

The ocelot, also known as the dwarf leopard, is a small wild cat once found in Arkansas and Louisiana. Now, it’s primarily located in Arizona and southern Texas

Collared Peccary

Commonly mistaken for a feral pig, the collared peccary (or javelina) is native to the southwestern United States, including Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Ringtail

The ringtail, also known as the ring-tailed cat or miner's cat, is part of the raccoon family. Found in the south, southwest, and west coast of the U.S.

Jaguarundi

The jaguarundi, a small wild cat, once roamed the Lower Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas. While most of its habitat is now in Mexico and Central to South America.

Flying Squirrel

North America is home to three species of flying squirrels: the northern, southern, and Humboldt’s flying squirrels.

Coati

The white-nosed coati, a member of the raccoon family, inhabits southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and southwest Texas.

Luna Moth

The luna moth is one of North America's largest moths, found in the eastern U.S. and Canada. This lime-green moth only lives for about seven days as an adult.

Jaguar

Once common in the southern U.S., the jaguar was eliminated from the region in the early 1900s. Thanks to the Jaguar Conservation Plan initiated in 2016.

Thick-billed Parrot

The thick-billed parrot, the only living parrot species native to North America, was once found in Arizona and New Mexico.

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