Ocelot kittens cuddly: Wildlife refuge den discovery first in 20 years

[TexasTowelie]

Courtesy of Laguna Atascosa NWR
A 3-week-old ocelot kitten found at den site was checked by a biologist.

Ocelot kittens cuddly: Wildlife refuge den discovery first in 20 years

HARLINGEN — Where there are kittens, there’s hope.

Four of the seven known female ocelots at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge have been photographed with new kittens, including one discovered in the first ocelot den found on the refuge in 20 years.

Of the seven known adult females, two are just reaching the age to reproduce, three have been photographed with healthy-looking kittens, one was tracked to the den with a kitten and one adult female has not been seen with any offspring.

The past two years have not been kind to the endangered Texas ocelot subspecies. Between June 2015 and April of this year, seven ocelots — six males and a female — are known to have died after being hit by vehicles. In all, Texas ocelots number about 80, with around 15 of them at Laguna Atascosa.

Read more: http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_281aac46-c667-11e6-aa81-332ad340d4e6.html

[Laffy Kat]

1. Major squee.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Aww, squee!

I want that kitty.