Jaguars (continued)

Hunting

The jaguar is a very good hunter. It can't run at high speeds for very long, so it uses its strength to catch its  victims. It also relies on its stealth and its ability to sneak up on its prey. For this reason, the jaguar usually hunts by night under thick cover. The jaguar has sharp claws and can climb trees well. It also spends much time near water and is an excellent swimmer.

Social order

Jaguars are solitary animals, and also very territorial. The size of a jaguar's territory depends on how much food is in the area and ranges from 2-200 square miles. Some jaguars have been known to escort humans out of their territory. They follow them from a safe distance without attacking, until the intruder is out of their territory.

Young

After a gestation period of about 100 days, females give birth to cubs with long wooly coats. They are blind and helpless when they are born, but they begin to see clearly in about two weeks. The number of cubs in a litter ranges from one to four. They stay with their mother for about two years, reaching maturity at three to four years old.

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