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NATURAL HISTORY
Ocelots are cats that are found in the wild. They are two to three times bigger than a house cat. They live in the forests and brushy areas in North, Central, and South America. In the United States, they can be found only in the state of Texas.
They are known for their beautiful fur with its spots, lines and circles. They are shy and only come out to hunt and explore at night.
Ocelots share their home with many other kinds of animals. They don’t share very well with other ocelots. Males and females have their own home area that they stay in. Males can go into the home areas of different females but they stay out of the home areas of other males.
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Why spots?
The ocelots’ spotted coat helps them to hide in the forest.Eat and be Eaten
What do I eat? Ocelots are very good hunters. They eat small animals such as rabbits, mice, lizards, fish, birds, crabs, and frogs. What eats me? Ocelots have to be very careful. They hunted by large snakes, bigger cats, and big eagles.My View of the World
Ocelots have good hearing, good vision, and a great sense of smell. They are also good climbers, jumpers, and swimmers.My home
Ocelots can be found in the forests and bushy areas. They like areas that have plants and trees they can hide in and walk under. They also like to be close to water so they can drink and fish. They don’t like to be out in the open.
Seriously? (Fun Facts)
• An ocelots’ tail can be one-third the length of its body. • Ocelots start teaching their kittens to hunt when they are three months old. • Ocelots are born with their eyes closed. They open them when they are two weeks old.Friends and Family
Adult ocelots mostly travel alone, but they do contact each other by making sounds or leaving smells. They make mewing and yowling sounds and leave scent marks on objects in the area.

Growing up
Ocelot babies are called kittens. There can be from one to four kittens in a litter. Mostly, there are just one or two. They nurse for nine months.
The kittens can take care of themselves by the time they are one year old. They may not leave home until they are two.
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Where you can find them at the zoo: The America’s Exhibit.

Status
Ocelots are very rare in the United States. There are only about 100 animals left in the State of Texas.
Threats
Once, they were hunted for their fur but hunting ocelots for their fur is illegal now. Ocelots are sometimes killed by farmers who think the ocelots kill their small farm animals. Mostly, ocelots are in trouble because people are living where used to live. We have made it hard for ocelots travel by putting roads, farms, and fences in their way.
Conservation Projects
Scientists are trying to find ways to make it easier for them to travel. Scientists and educators talk to people that live in the same places as ocelots so they know how to help.
What Our Zoo Does
Our Zoo supports the scientists by contributing money to ocelot research and educating people about ocelots.
[/vc_column_text] [/vc_tab] [/vc_tour] [vc_button title="References" href="http://23.246.247.203/~maryash/references/" color="button_grey" size="wpb_regularsize" icon="wpb_play" target="_self" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]" href="http://23.246.247.203/~maryash/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ocelot8.jpg">- Ocelot