Ocelots face threats from habitat loss, road mortality, and the illegal pet trade — their welfare and conservation status.
Ocelot welfare is shaped primarily by habitat quality and road mortality risk. In the Texas population — one of the smallest wild cat populations in North America — every individual matters for species survival, and every road mortality is both a welfare event and a potentially significant conservation loss. The animals experience road crossing as a hazard — evidence shows they are reluctant to cross open paved surfaces and may be exposed to headlights and vehicle approach before a collision. Wildlife crossings with appropriate cover reduce this risk by providing protected passage. The Texas ocelot program demonstrates that targeted infrastructure investment in wildlife crossings can meaningfully reduce road mortality in small, threatened populations.