Charismatic Megafauna: El Jefe
Call it a prequel!
Hi Bestie!!
I’m was maybe hiking in the woods with a bunch of little kids when I drafted this. Why change the intro now that I’m back in Brooklyn, greeting you from a haze of uncertainty and holiday dread? (Actually, now I’m back in Walkersville–not where I was hiking–but it’s all the same.)
To my disappointment, I did not see an Eastern Cougar (possibly a different species than the one in the West?). I didn’t see any animals in their natural habitat on the walk, which the children’s parents assured each other is a side effect of bringing small children into nature. (Seems unfair to the children.) It’s been almost a year since P-22 died, and I still think about him all the time! I also think, “Someone saw a cougar in Montgomery County twenty years ago when they took out the trash,” and furtively flash the light by the backdoor at my parent’s house when I take out the trash. I have thought about this cougar every time I enter the carport after sunset. (I have never seen so much as a raccoon. In the summer we see toads in the evening, if we are lucky.) It was on the local–WJLA–news. I have to believe it was real, if only because I believe, fervently, in journalism.
(Sidebar: Is the media disappointing me with regard to the ongoing genocide in Palestine? YES.)
It was on the evening news. I can’t find anything about this now. (Because the Internet doesn’t truly live forever! Where are our MySpace photos?) They probably didn’t see a cougar, because pumas haven’t lived on the east coast for hundreds of years. A bummer, to be sure.
If we were in the southwest, near the Mexico border, I’d keep my eye out for a jaguar, however. Specifically El Jefe. I desperately want him to make his way north, to America. Jaguars are the only big cats native to North America, and the very idea of a jaguar wild in America thrills me. I didn’t even know until this year that Jaguars could live in America! I’m so glad I found “Individual Animals in the United States” this year.
I know, you are likely wondering how that wouldn’t include a lynx or a cougar. Neither are considered big cats. Do I want to see either while hiking alone? NO. El Jefe is the most recent jaguar to live in America. (Macho B died in Arizona in 2009. He is the longest-living jaguar in the world.) He was first spotted (ha) in 2011 by a man and daughter hiking in the mountains. Their dogs chased El Jefe, twice!
He was named in 2015 by middle school students through a contest. El Jefe translates from Spanish to "the boss," and jaguars (as established) are the biggest cat. (They're the third largest in the world, behind the tiger and the lion.) The elusive cat was spotted by trail cameras a lot, though not enough: his existence wasn’t announced until 2016. By then, he wasn’t hanging out in Arizona anymore. His last sighting was the year he was named. It’s OK. He’s not dead! He’s in Sonora, Mexico, where he was last seen in 2022.
Researchers speculate that El Jefe’s return–and the migration of a partner–has been stymied by Trump’s wall. But there is also evidence of an as-of-yet unidentified jaguar making its way back and forth across the border, which is very exciting.
Dribs and Drabs
From Thanksgiving week: you can order more COVID tests. There’s a big spike again so join me in hoarding tests. (You need them when you get COVID, it’s not like the doctor gives any when they tell you to test negative.) The NYPL branches seem to still offer free tests, too!
A surprise reappearance of rare frogs!
Now is the time for the most vivid meteor shower of the year. Or was. This has been sitting in my drafts for a while.
I’m not sure what I think about Taylor Lorenz, but I enjoyed the most recent episode of You’re Wrong About, which is about women on the Internet. I was very into LiveJournal and mommy blogs.
I enjoyed this essay about looking for the perfect mountain town. I don’t have anything to say about feeling deeply at home in Medora, North Dakota, and Brooklyn, New York.
There’s gonna be a Squishmallow happy meal this week.
I’m very interested in blow molds, and I desperately hope I find a Santa at a flea market or something. I picture big, open windows in my new (imaginary) apartment and a lit up Santa in front of it. Whether I find one or not I’m joining those Facebook groups. I love people who are dedicated to their niche.
Related: It’s easier to find vintage holiday decor (aluminum trees, etc.) in the summer on eBay and I’m going to do that, too.
I was right not to get back on Substack. But I don’t know where to post Macaroon Shindig, because Buttondown doesn’t support media in a way that fulfills my vision. (Is there somewhere you recommend?)
End Of Year
I’m not the least bit disappointed that my Spotify Wrapped is the music I listened to while looking for glass in the city’s numerous bays. Or walking around Los Angeles–Gold Panda was on my Weekly Discovery the week I was in town.
My editor sent me the band Del Paxton and I want the rest of my cool emo friends to know about them, too.
I read more books than last year, but not a lot.
I’m looking forward to the Oscar contenders and feeling smug that Past Lives is doing well as awards season begins.
Always your friend,
Katherine
Sources (MLA 9)
“Big Cats Big Personalities.” Carnegie Museum of Natural History, carnegiemnh.org/big-cats-big-personalities. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
Carter, Jamie. “Year’s Strongest Meteor Shower Has Begun: When to See the Geminids at Their Best.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 23 Nov. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2023/11/18/years-strongest-meteor-shower-has-begun-when-to-see-the-geminids-at-their-best.
“Category:Individual Animals in the United States.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 May 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Individual_animals_in_the_United_States.
Davis, Tony. “Guide Describes Roaring, Powerful Jaguar.” Arizona Daily Star, 23 Nov. 2011, tucson.com/news/local/guide-describes-roaring-powerful-jaguar/article_2073df7a-4fb6-55bb-b1d9-20c521bc0e41.html.
Del Paxton, delpaxton.bandcamp.com. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
“El Jefe (Jaguar).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Jefe_(jaguar).
Hansman, Heather. “I Knew It Was Time to Move to a Mountain Town. I Just Didn’t Know Which One.” Outside Online, 18 Dec. 2023, www.outsideonline.com/culture/essays-culture/searching-perfect-mountain-town-essay.
“Influencers with Taylor Lorenz .” You’re Wrong About, Buzzsprout, yourewrongabout.buzzsprout.com/1112270/14130803. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
Katz, Jonathan M. “Substack Has a Nazi Problem.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 28 Nov. 2023, www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/substack-extremism-nazi-white-supremacy-newsletters/676156/.
Koren, Marina. “The Lonely Jaguar of the United States.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 3 Feb. 2016, www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2016/02/one-is-the-loneliest-number/459828.
“Macho B: Death of a Jaguar.” The Arizona Republic, www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/arizona/investigations/2014/10/15/macho-b-death-of-a-jaguar/17214471. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
“Macho B: Death of a Rare Arizona Jaguar.” Arizona Daily Star, 22 June 2010, tucson.com/news/local/macho-b-death-of-a-rare-arizona-jaguar/collection_fdc099f2-7e28-11df-914b-001cc4c002e0.html.
“McDonald’s to Bring Squishmallows Happy Meal to the U.S.” Delish, 24 Dec. 2023, www.delish.com/food-news/a46190606/mcdonalds-squishmallows-happy-meal.
Musa, Amanda. “More Free, at-Home Covid-19 Tests Available for US Residents through Government.” CNN, Cable News Network, 20 Nov. 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/11/20/health/free-covid-tests-ordering/index.html.
“New Photo Captures ‘Mystery Jaguar’ Never Seen before in Arizona.” 12 News, www.12news.com/article/life/animals/mystery-jaguar-new-photo-shows-jaguar-arizona-border/75-46f46971-7abb-4cd5-bf75-d4ba0df38da2. Accessed 25 Dec. 2023.
Press, Associated. “Students Name Arizona Wild Jaguar ‘El Jefe.’” The Arizona Republic, AP, 3 Nov. 2015, www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/11/03/students-name-arizona-wild-jaguar-el-jefe/75100458.
Staaf, Danna. “The Surprise Reappearance of a Rare Frog Has Scientists Leaping to Protect Its Habitat.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 Dec. 2023, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/surprise-reappearance-rare-frog-scientists-leaping-protect-habitat-180983233.