Jaguar decision expected from feds

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to issue a decision soon on whether to develop a recovery plan for the jaguar in the Southwest.

The feds are bound by a court order to issue a decision on managing jaguars and the case is seen as a test by conservationists as to whether the government will work to protect a species that ranges across United State's borders.

The big cats range is primarily south of New Mexico and Arizona into Mexico and Central and South America. They once ranged into Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Once believed to be extirpated in the United States, a hunter running mountain lions in New Mexico treed a jaguar and took photos of the big cat. That spurred a study that has resulted in two cats being identified.

One of the cats, Macho B, was captured in a snare in southern Arizona, but died shortly after being tranquilized.