Late last month, remote cameras captured an ocelot using one of the wildlife crossings under FM 106 (General Brandt Road) east of Rio Hondo.

The ocelot, known as OM283, crossed from back and forth on one of the eight wildlife crossings that lead to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

The wildlife crossings allow animals to cross man-made barriers safely and include underpass tunnels, viaducts, and overpasses or green bridges.

Ocelots are critically endangered with a reported estimated population of 80 individuals left in South Texas.

Eight years ago, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Department of Transportation built eight underpass crossings on FM 106 during highway project to widen the road.

Construction started in Nov. 2015, and the underpass crossing structures were completed in July 2019. The eight wildlife crossing underpasses have been monitored by remote still cameras since the project began in 2013.

Wildlife corridors are also located on State Highway 100 between Los Fresnos and South Padre Island. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley faculty and students do research on measuring the effects of habitat changes and the installation of the wildlife crossings.

Aside from the ocelots, armadillos, javelin, bobcats, long-tailed weasels, alligators and tortoises have used the crossings.

Courtesy: TxDOT/USFW
Courtesy: TxDOT/USFW

Courtesy: TxDOT/USFWS