AskScience AMA Series: I'm a wildlife filmmaker who's spent years tracking and filming the endangered ocelot population in Texas. Ask me anything!

Submitted by AskScienceModerator t3_z0x8ye in askscience

Hi, I'm Ben Masters, wildlife filmmaker and ocelot enthusiast. I studied wildlife biology at Texas A&M University and founded the production company Fin and Fur Films in 2015. 

There are fewer than 120 ocelots remaining in the US. With many factors acting against them, there is still hope for their survival, if opposing parties can come to an agreement on their management methods. I've spent years in Texas capturing the first-ever high-quality footage of American ocelots in the wild, meeting with stakeholders along the way to raise awareness about conservation solutions.

You can learn more about these efforts in the recent PBS Nature documentary "American Ocelot," now available to stream in the US.

I'll be answering your questions at 1 pm ET (18 UT). Ask me anything!

Username: /u/benmasters88

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quantumhobbit t1_ix7yo9a wrote

I really enjoyed the episode of Nature. Great work.

Are there any plans to reintroduce Ocelots into their former range further north in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas? Or i the focus only on South Texas?

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benmasters88 t1_ix99nck wrote

Currently the most likely place for a reintroduction of either cats or new genetics is in South Texas in habitat similar to where they currently exist.

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weareami t1_ix81mhp wrote

Is the percentage of private land ownership in Texas a challenge to your research, or to conservation of the species in general?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9foi3 wrote

there's a lot of pros and cons. good land stewards are wonderful to work with and there's other gates that will just always remain locked.

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chai1984 t1_ix7yppj wrote

  1. What are the biggest threats - habitat loss, pest control, lack of prey or competition from feral animals like dogs, cats and pigs?
  2. Are any of your subjects named Shalashaska?
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Alwayssunnyinarizona t1_ix803ei wrote

I loved that your young daughter got to tag along for some of the studies! (E to add that I caught part of the show with my 5yo daughter, who is big into wild cats!)

What was your career path, have you always wanted to pursue wildlife biology and have you always had an interest in ocelots specifically?

Do you find that the private property... situation... in Texas makes ocelot conservation more challenging?

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benmasters88 t1_ixcee7s wrote

I studied wildlife biology at Texas A&M and then started making short films after college about wildlife, adventure, and consevation stories. I've got a small company cllaed Fin and Fur Films. Being a Texan, I've always been fascinated by ocelots. Private property has pros and cons. When there's a conservation minded landowner it makes things wonderful but sometimes market forces or family politics make landscape scale conservation really difficult. It's definitely a challenge for sure when it comes to private land ownership and endangered species restoration. That said, there's been success in the past with other endangered animals and the future could be bright for ocelots.

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blue_field_pajarito t1_ix82fp6 wrote

What is the single biggest action that would protect ocelots that we (as a society or government) could take?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9fc76 wrote

for the US federal government and the Mexican federal government to get past the red tape and allow reintroductions to occur.

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pam_the_dude t1_ix80r71 wrote

How does funding for projects like this work? And how could one dip their toes into wildlife cinematography?

It sounds like an incredible interesting job, but I find it hard to see a good entry. I could just go outside and and Film squirrels and birds all day, but in the end there is no value other than for me. How could someone find a interesting wildlife project without being a well known photographer first?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9fsk6 wrote

I suggest making a short film first. That's a great way to learn about all the roles and is a better resume tool than a degree. That's the first thing I ask when someone asks to work at our company, is for a film or a reel

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bobmac102 t1_ix82fjw wrote

Hello! In "American Ocelot", it is mentioned that there is concern that ranches near the boarder will likely be converted to wind farms and are going to occupy potentially crucial corridors for ocelots. In the southwest where I have worked as a field tech, solar farm development threatens the Mojave desert tortoise by eating up crucial habitat for them.

We need to significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, as we attempt to move away from them, I worry energy projects like these are being accepted and integrated uncritically by a lot of well-intentioned folks in ways that can ultimately harm fragile wildlife populations and further erode our wildernesses. I don’t think a lot of the public are aware that something being labeled as "green" is not necessarily environmentally harmless. What are your thoughts on this? How should we move towards renewable energy sources without sacrificing crucial habitat for sensitive species?

Thank you so much for your time!

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benmasters88 t1_ix9flku wrote

we're on the same page. It's such a difficult thing to know where to best put them. Here in Texas there's virtually no zoning and some of the wind farms are in super important migratory pathways and very sensitive habitat, kind of negating their purpose. It's tough and I don't know the best pathway, but recognizing that alternative energy has a huge impact is really important.

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cidqueen t1_ix85gis wrote

Have you ever made an ocelittle joke?

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OnlyMatters t1_ix8mpef wrote

My 6yo was transfixed last night watching the Nature episode. One thing we were wondering was why are wind farms so bad for ocelots in particular, and what would it take for windmills to be more nature friendly? (For example painting one arm black to help bird strikes)

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benmasters88 t1_ix9c96g wrote

It's not so much the windfarm as it is the habitat loss. It's no differnet than a parking lot or an ag field. Anytime you transition wild habitat into a human dominated area you lose the wildlife. For ocelots in S. Texas, a lot of their former habitat has been plowed under and is now dominated by ag and wind farms, which is totally unsuitable for the species. Alternative energy is necessary, but it definitely comes at a high price and we should be careful where we put it. In Texas, there's little to no zoning for wind energy and there's turbines in some really stupid places that are extremely importnat migratory corridors. It's maddening because the effort to do alternative energy is noble and necessary, but done poortly can really set back some areas or species

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60fuckinshooters t1_ix85zf7 wrote

i think your work is so cool! im a junior wildlife ecology and conservation major at college! are there any habitat management plans in place currently to help the ocelot population? how are they working out?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9eyh2 wrote

there are many! the Nature Conservancy is doing conservation easements in ocelot areas and the USFWS is extending their habitat on the refute. It's working but it's not super large scale, is very expensive, and takes a long time.

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attherd t1_ix8aeif wrote

What are some of the best ways that an individual can help with ensuring habitat availability for animals such as the ocelot (ideally options from multiple in income ranges from volunteering to being able to provide larger grants)?

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miz_mantis t1_ix8wr88 wrote

I just watched the episode. Wonderful! Has fired me up to do something to force action on this. Also, Birdie is adorable!

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benmasters88 t1_ix9b029 wrote

definitely proud dad moment watching her open up that camera trap!

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Kanchome t1_ix801lq wrote

I don’t know anything about ocelots other than they’re cats. Why are they not as successful at remaining populous as stray house cats?

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[deleted] t1_ix8s3w8 wrote

I’ve been waiting for someone to do an AMA about this!

I NEED to know: Have you or your team found any evidence of large felines living in Texas?

I ask because when I lived in north east Texas my dad and I raised and bred horses. On our way back from the pasture one day a very large (jaguar or leopard size) black feline was very lazily walking down the side of highway 276, when it saw us it walked across the road and down into some forests.

I know some people told me a guy released a bunch of big cats back in the 80s during an FBI raid, but this happened around 2006-2007. The only other thing I could think was that jaguars are moving north, because the ocelots are rare and small.

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benmasters88 t1_ix9bhv8 wrote

there's mountain lions in Texas but no breeding populations in NE Texas. The last documented jaguar in Texas was in the 40s and there has never been a black jaguar anywhere close to Texas, I think the farthest north melanistic jaguar was documented in Chiapas MX

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ophel1a_ t1_ix9bpsp wrote

It would be AMAZING to build a wild corridor between Mexico and the US. I see that housing developments, possibly turbine area?, farms/ranches, and potentially the divider wall are obstacles. Are there any other impediments in place?

ETA: Great episode, too!

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benmasters88 t1_ix9eb2k wrote

I love that idea too but I don't think it's realistic. There's just way too many humans between the wild ocelots in mexico and the US to have a natural corridor that could realistically be an interchange between the populations.

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golden_n00b_1 t1_ix9eire wrote

What are the chances of getting an ocelot documentary narrated by Archer?

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kimbabs t1_ix8s0rw wrote

As someone often in the Houston area, what's one way someone could contribute there to preservation efforts?

I had no idea there were even ocelots in Texas!

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Arfusman t1_ix98s9l wrote

Great Nova episode! This may be a dumb question, but if there's so much habitat that's so well managed in Mexico, why can't the American ocelots be taken there? Itd make them extinct in the US, but it'd keep them from being in a fragmented, genetically homogeneous population prone to human conflict.

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benmasters88 t1_ix99wc5 wrote

Interesting thought. For me, as an American and as a Texan, I don't like the idea of not being able to have our most beautiful and endangered cat in our home. Where they currently exist in Texas, they're doing fairly well.

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thisishowwedooooit t1_ix7zcpa wrote

What do you feel regarding hope for the future for these and other animals? I find the more involved I am in learning about conservation, the more hopeless I feel. Are you optimistic, and how do you keep that going when it seems like the march of humans will never stop until all habitats are turned to suburbs.

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rex1030 t1_ix86now wrote

How is your work funded?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9esub wrote

this one was funded as a co-production by PBS Nature and Terra Mater. We also fund films through grants, foundations, as well as sales on platforms like AppleTV or amazong prime. Its a tough but rewarding career

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Makenshine t1_ix8mjut wrote

Hi, native Texan here. Lived there for 34 years.

We have Ocelots in Texas?

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DeannaZone t1_ix8zvsl wrote

Thank you for all you do.
I have not watched the video; so these questions may already be answered in it.
What is the best habitat for these creatures?
Besides stay away and leave them alone, is there anything we can do to support the creature, by maintaining a safe haven, example I have family in Texas with a farm, that they keep an area with items that Ocelot can use for shelter and breeding ground, like straw to keep them warm during the winter months.

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jvlomb t1_ix94kru wrote

Ben this is fantastic! Sending good vibes from the CKWRI ocelot team. - Jason

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benmasters88 t1_ix9an6p wrote

Thanks Jason! Appreciate all you've done for ocelots and for helping to guide our filming and understanding of the species!

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Floodtoflood t1_ix7yzfb wrote

How good are the really with spinning revolvers around? Are they pretty good?

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designer_of_drugs t1_ix8889o wrote

Have you managed capture Revolver Ocelot?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9djsk wrote

haha no but if somebody did that costume and walked in front of my camera traop they would be my favorite person

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LiveEatSleep123 t1_ix8i06m wrote

Can there be any chance of ocelot breeding and repopulating while in captivity.

If possible then has it been tried yet?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9cq2a wrote

Yes definitely. A captive breeding program is definitely a possibility and there are vets that collect the semen from wild cats when they;re caught. The struggle is that its' very expensive, time consuming, and the captive bred cats don't release as successfully as wild cats due to their pampered upbringing

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LiveEatSleep123 t1_ix9dblm wrote

Maybe their upbringing could be done in a simulation of their natural habitat to make them as close as possible to the wild one. I don't know, but it sure is good to know that there still is a chance of them repopulating

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guitarfan28 t1_ix8kcql wrote

I work on a wind farm in south Texas by Oilton. We had a ocelot once at the edge of our O&M perimeter that freaked me out because I couldn’t recognize what it was, they’re so strange at a distance when you’re used to other wildcats. This was probably 5 years ago and I haven’t seen another one since then.

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Dapper_Anteater_8343 t1_ix8nr06 wrote

I could imagine that an appropriately managed wind farm could have a lower effect on wildlife than some other uses for the same land. Are there some practices that could be required and would make a huge difference in better habitat on wind farms? Perhaps ideas like how you mentioned that ocelots like den under the branches of a fallen tree…. Fish and birds respond well to good artificial housing structures. Is a wind farm with great housing better than a barren natural landscape? (This is a random example idea, maybe there are other ideas that make a more important difference for ocelots. Better prey habitat may be more important than better ocelots den structures, etc.)

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benmasters88 t1_ix9brx8 wrote

I think that a windfarm with good forest or brush underneath would be suitable for ocelots but most of the wind farms in South Texas near the ocelots are on ag.

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ReydeMangos18 t1_ix8u5u6 wrote

Have you ever experienced “the silence” when everything around you goes completely silent, even the animals?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9b91l wrote

I have not, normally the woods are pretty noisy. Probably nighttime in Montana in winter far from a road is the quietest I've heard or closest to silent

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Rex_Lee t1_ix84wut wrote

How much do you know about Jaguarundis? I swear I saw one in South Texas, Atascosa county to be exact.

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benmasters88 t1_ix9f6ha wrote

last confirmed jaguarundi was run over in the valley in the 80s I believe. There hasn't been a confirmed sigthing in 40 years. never saw any on our trail cams vs. in mexico we'd get them often

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ThisHasNoMeaning t1_ix8yrw8 wrote

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to make this AMA, what advice do you have for an aspiring wildlife filmmaker?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9ay6k wrote

make a short film that has a story. It doesn't have to be beautiful or perfect but if you have a short film that tells a story, production companies and other filmmakers will see that you care and know how it actually comes together. IT's the best way to learn all the roles too.

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freezeframepls t1_ix96e00 wrote

hi! which kind of equipment is most suitable for this kind of filmmaking field ?

lens mm?
type of sensor
Camera preferences ?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9aix7 wrote

For consumer grade cameras, I prefer the Browning Recon Force HP5. For professional grade camera traps that'll shoot in 4K, I prefer the Tsheds or the Cognisys with either Panasonic or Canon camera bodies. Low light sensor is preferred and a variable lens to meet the situation. Thanks for watching!

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TychaBrahe t1_ix979sg wrote

I just watched your video last week! It was fascinating and beautiful.

Can citizens, especially non-Texans, exert any pressure to help you in your goals to strengthen the breeding population? Your film discusses several things that could be done, but none have been, after years of watching the population decline.

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benmasters88 t1_ix9aaig wrote

I wish I had the magical answer but to be honest I don't. For ambitious recovery efforts to take place there would have to be approval of permits at both state and federal levels and I feel your frustration over not knowing how to proceed. I'm taking the film to DC after the holidays and setting up a screening and trying to get some of the top folks at USFWS and DOI to come and get inspired (fingers crossed!). There's also a great resource guide at recoverhttps://recovertexasocelots.org/ that has some opportunities to get involved or support financially. Thanks for watching and for the question!

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CoCoSunny33 t1_ix9c7me wrote

I caught your show on public access. Have you gotten any further with bringing ocelots up from Mexico?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9e4yd wrote

no, not yet unfortunately. Fingers crossed. I wish I had the magic button to get the powers that be together but I've found that button difficult to find.

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mad_fishmonger t1_ix9dktb wrote

What was a very cute or heartwarming ocelot moment?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9dzub wrote

I once saw this goopy liquid on my lens cover and tasted it to try to identify what it was. Then when I looked through the footage I discovered it was ocelot pee. It didn't tastee good.

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Sel_Therapy t1_ixahp6f wrote

I really had no idea we still had ocelots in the US. They have been one of my favorite cats since I was a child. So I really feel ashamed for not knowing that.

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Zealouslybored t1_ixbad0b wrote

Loved your reaction to seeing the kittens. Truly warming! Keep up the good work. Any idea why they are not found in Florida? Everglades or central Florida seem like pretty ideal habitat.

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champ1337 t1_ixcag9j wrote

How do you make money?

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FriedMule t1_ix7s692 wrote

Thanks for offering your knowledge and time! :-)

Am I correct in understanding that there have been a lot of misunderstanding and even superstition around the ocelots?

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cormac_9 t1_ix86i0w wrote

What’s the one piece of equipment everyone should have but doesn’t necessarily think about when camping out and tracking wildlife?

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blackwidowsurvivor t1_ix8a6bn wrote

How did you get started in wildlife filmmaking? Seems like such a fun but hard career path.

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benmasters88 t1_ix9dddi wrote

I studied wildlfie biology at Texas A&M and then started making short films afterwards. It's a lot of fun but its difficult to do it well enough to make a career out of for sure.

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Dominator497 t1_ix8dfmn wrote

I am a broadcast Engineer, so I'm naturally interested in your equipment.

Would you tell us about the equipment and technologies you use for filming as well as tracking wildlife?

What pieces of gear are your favorite for certain tasks?

What are the biggest technical challenges you have filming and tracking wildlife?

How do you overcome them?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9d4n1 wrote

for this movie the camera traps were super important. We used browning consumer grade camera traps and Tshed pro grad camera traps. Biggest challenge is figuring out their behaviors and getting the cats dialed in, it often takes several months before you get it figured out, which can be difficult to stay motivated!

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cchrobo t1_ix8fntu wrote

There are ocelots native to Texas? What region(s)?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9cxej wrote

they're historically found across much of eastern half of the state and into louisiana and arkansas, most likely along river habitat and forests.

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krismitka t1_ix8fwvc wrote

Which animal and population will you cover next, after Texas wipes the remaining Ocelots out?

Edit: Okay people, did you not just watch the video?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9cts4 wrote

currently working on borderland jaguars. And I sincerely hope ocelots are not wiped out! I'm cautiously optimistic about their prospects

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DEClarke85 t1_ix8lxfs wrote

How do you decide the subjects for your films? Are you "assigned" topics, discover topics on your own, or is it a mix of both?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9cir8 wrote

I'm in the incredibly good fortune to choose what I want to make, which I do not take for granted! I've got a lot of friends in the wildlife research and conservation world and they keep me pretty up to date and just kind of take the opportunities that arise. This film actually started as a low budget short film and when PBS Nature saw it, they reached out and asked us to extend it into a 50 minute.

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BigShowSunnyO t1_ix8tc15 wrote

Any chance you do a follow up on the mustangs?

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benmasters88 t1_ix9b4ce wrote

whew, maybe one day. I'd like to do that ride again one day but probably not for at least 2 decades or so. Dang that was good living

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motorfreak93 t1_ix9aern wrote

I love ocelots.

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benmasters88 t1_ix9ejod wrote

In wildlife biologist circles we talk about how the mountain lions are beautiful, but their noses are kind of funny. Bobcats? They're amazing but their tails are too short. Jaguars? Well their heads are too big and they're built like barrels. But ocelots! They've got rosettes, stripes, bars, and are the most beautiful and athletic cat we've got!

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Horsepeoplepodcast t1_ix9dmxw wrote

No way!! Ben masters, you’re the GOAT.

How could I get in touch with you or the team to be on my podcast? Watched unbranded and it inspired me to start this journey. Going on a long ride in Mongolia and would love to chat!

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homostar_runner t1_ix9eakh wrote

Thank you for your important work! While everyone else is asking about more pertinent stuff relating to your work, I'm here because cats are cute as hell and I'm curious about ocelots lol

Are (non-wild) ocelots affectionate? Do they purr, meow, roar, make other sounds?

And, most importantly: Can you share your favorite cute and/or funny thing you've witnessed an ocelot do?

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benmasters88 t1_ixceml0 wrote

haha i had an ocelot spray mark on my camera lens - a direct shot of pee!

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Provia100F t1_ix9k389 wrote

I've encountered a few friendly mountain lions in the past that came by for a pet and some water, how likely are Texas Ocelots to approach humans?

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benmasters88 t1_ixceoyo wrote

not that likely - sometimes they get run over but that's about the extent of human interaction with them (sadly)

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TotalTyp t1_ix9k5r1 wrote

How do you become a wildlife filmmaker? Sounds like a rare intersection of two different skillsets.

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_Oce_ t1_ix9oj8s wrote

Youtube video is not available in Europe.

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zillion_grill t1_ix9p1ja wrote

Ever heard or seen something that you can't really explain? Some spooky stuff happens out there

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acrossthehallmates t1_ix9raju wrote

I think that's so amazing! In middle school, I did an endangered species report on ocelots. They were my fav for many years.

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buffalojumpone t1_ix9s2ew wrote

What is the approximate % of males to females?

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FoThizzleMaChizzle t1_ix9uejo wrote

How long does it take to get such up-close shots of elusive animals? What tricks do you use to get it done, and what sort of ranges are you filming across, as far as distance? I can never tell if it's a zoomed in image from a ways off, or if you're actually 5 feet from some of these animals.

Especially for endangered animals, I believe people need these films etc. to learn why they should care. Keep doing what you're doing, and thanks so much for contributing to the future of our biodiversity.

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benmasters88 t1_ixcerzl wrote

Thank you! For this film we used camera traps and some of the footage was taken within inches of the cat.

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MurkyPerspective767 t1_ix9vevf wrote

What/who was your inspiration to get into the field of wildlife photography?

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JTex85 t1_ixa42su wrote

Hey man, I love your stuff. You went to college with my cousin Jake E. who introduced us all to your stuff after y’all had graduated and we’ve been following your work ever since! Love how atmospheric and informative everything is, keep up the amazing work!

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Remedy4Souls t1_ixace0s wrote

No questions but a big Howdy and Gig Em from me!

Renewable Natural Resources ‘22

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plantscatsandus t1_ixae8x1 wrote

Can I have a job? A degree in environmental sciences is doing me no good ATM 😂

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ThisIsWater19 t1_ixafx9u wrote

I need some advice on career paths if you have the time. I’m graduating in the spring with a bachelors in environmental studies! Looking for some guidance! Thanks!

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NotSeren t1_ixan0h9 wrote

If given the opportunity (with their consent) would you rub an ocelot’s belly? Also side note I didn’t even know Texas had ocelots so that’s actually really cool

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Beautiful_Smile t1_ixb35ze wrote

I saw an Ocelot in Grey Forest Texas in 2020! It cruised by me and I caught a blurry photo. I will look for it!

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darktux t1_ixbehfu wrote

Do you watch Archer?

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aartadventure t1_ixbfduk wrote

I don't live in the USA, but good luck, and thank you for your efforts. A shame people don't value other species as much as oil and money.

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Novaleah88 t1_ixbgjdl wrote

I’ve heard a lot of species of cats have similar traits to our household buddies (purring, headbutts, the way they are with toys). What make Ocelots alike, or different from my kitty?

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swolebird t1_ixbk0kw wrote

What does a small feline muslim say?

Ocelot aleikoom! :) :) :)

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alabasterwilliams t1_ixbkcbd wrote

I may be a little late to the party, but is Revolver Ocelot as handy with a gun as he says he is?

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SpecificEnough t1_ixblssb wrote

Can you please post your favorite 3 still shots?

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OzarkHiker1977 t1_ixbw7xz wrote

What was ever discovered to be the cause of the numerous deaths a number of years ago?

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hugthemachines t1_ixbyv35 wrote

What do you think made you so interested in ocelots compared to other wild life?

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joakims t1_ixc5kck wrote

What does ocelots smell like?

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watertrashsf t1_ix83rvy wrote

Why is your entire production team wearing cowboy hats on your production company’s website?

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