Research overview: road mortality and connectivity for ocelots

Across the range, and acutely in Texas, vehicle collisions are a leading documented cause of ocelot death. This overview gathers studies linking roads to direct mortality and to the subtler barrier effect that fragments populations and isolates breeding groups. Researchers using GPS tracking and mortality records have evaluated wildlife underpasses, fencing, and brush cover at crossing points, finding that well-placed structures combined with funnel fencing can reduce kills and restore movement. Modeling connectivity also identifies which forest patches must stay linked to maintain gene flow. Because edge populations are so small, even a few road deaths per year can outpace reproduction, making transportation planning a surprisingly central tool in ocelot conservation.