Jaguar's trapping was criminal act, not just tragedy

The death of Arizona's last known jaguar was cloaked in deception. We don't yet know where the lies began, but the public has a strong interest in finding out. We do know the public was misled. Initially, state and federal officials said the cat accidentally blundered into a snare that had been placed as part of an Arizona Game and Fish Department bear/ mountain-lion study. After being trapped, the jaguar known as Macho B was collared and released only to be subsequently recaptured and put down when he showed signs of distress. It was an ignoble ending for rare and wonderful wild animal. The protection of such endangered animals is a priority of federal law. The recovery of endangered species is national policy. As a careless accident, Macho B's death was a tragedy. But it wasn't an accident. It was a crime. Last week, for-hire biologist Emil McCain, who had been working as a subcontractor for Game and Fish, pleaded guilty to telling a co-worker to put jaguar scat at trapping sites to lure Macho B, an animal previously seen only in photos. McCain, who at first denied the luring the beast, was sentenced to five years' probation and fined $1,000. Former Game and Fish employee Thornton "Thorry" Smith was fired after admitting he helped McCain try to cover up the truth. This isn't over. Game and Fish has an ongoing investigation, as does the federal government. It is important to find out whether higher-ups in Game and Fish knew about this illegal effort...more