Wildlife officials in South Texas are hopeful that a photo of a kitten roaming the vast South Texas wilderness will help them to save an iconic and endangered cat species.According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, one of the 50-80 ocelots still left in the United States is the young ocelot captured at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.Experts say that although the spotted cats used to live in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, they are now restricted to the lower Rio Grande Valley.Experts believe habitat destruction, urbanization and agricultural development are the main causes of species decline.TPWD stated that the photo taken by a trail camera at Laguna Atascosa near South Padre Island has given hope for the future.Officials at Refuge say that the kitten was approximately 1 to 2 months of age when it was photographed in November.Laguna Atascosa shared the exciting experience of recording a kitten so young in a Facebook post.Ocelots can grow to be about 3 feet in length and weigh between 15-30 pounds once fully grown. This is approximately the same size as a bobcat according to TPWD.According to refuges posts, this kitten is one of five juveniles that have been documented at the refuge over the past two years. This is a promising trend.The kitten is part of a recent baby boom in ocelots at the refuge over two years. Five additional ocelots were first recorded as juveniles in 2019 and then again captured on camera within the last few months, the post stated.There were 17 ocelots in Laguna Atascosa refuge as of March. This is a new high.Texas has many friendly dolphins. Experts warn that it could prove fatalSome people are worried after a Texas skinny bear was spotted. Poor guy needs a cheeseburgerVideo shows a blob of creepy critters in Texas state park. What are they?Can you spot the bear cubs? California hiker almost missed them
