Woman admits role in 'Macho B' jaguar capture

Courtesy photos
Macho B, the only known living jaguar in the United States,  was euthanized after being captured illegally in 2009.   

TUCSON, Ariz. – Janay Brun, 39, of Sasabe, Ariz., executed a diversion agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office today where she admitted to committing an Attempted Take of an Endangered Species, which is a violation of the Endangered Species Act. Brun admitted under oath before by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to placing jaguar scat at a snare site in an attempt to capture the jaguar known as Macho B. Less than two weeks after its initial capture in February of 2009, the ailing Macho B, the only known jaguar living in the United States, had to be recaptured and euthanized by the Arizona Department of Game and Fish.

Under the terms of the agreement, the information against Brun was dismissed and will not be reinstated if she complies with the terms of the diversion agreement; namely that she not be involved in any jaguar or large cat study in the United States for 12 months and that she not violate any federal, state, or local law.

“I am pleased with this agreement because Ms. Brun has been cooperative with our investigation, and now she has admitted under oath her involvement in the capture of the jaguar Macho B,” said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke.

On February 4, 2009, at or near Ruby, Ariz., in the Atascosa Mountain region, Brun and Emil McCain placed jaguar scat near snare sites in an attempt to capture and trap the jaguar known as Macho B. McCain worked with Brun as part of the Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project, whose main task was photographing and tracking jaguar activity in Southern Arizona. Brun knew that there had been recent evidence of Macho B's presence in the area of the snares. The snares had been set for the purpose of capturing and placing tracking collars on mountain lions and bears; there was no authorization or permission to intentionally capture a jaguar. Macho B was caught on February 18, 2009 at the snare site where Brun had placed scat.

McCain had previously pled guilty to the same offense and received five years probation with the condition that he not participate in any jaguar or large cat study in the United States for that period, and a $1,000 fine.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The prosecution was handled by Ryan P. DeJoe, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.