The Florida Panther(Puma Concolor Coryi) is very critically endangered. There are only 30 to 50 of these animals left in the wild. They are a beautiful cat and it is a shame what man has done to these magnificent creatures.

Florida Panthers are one of more than 20 subspecies of Cougar. They are a uniform tawny color with a lighter colored fur on their lower chests, belly and inner legs. Colorizations may vary from a grayish color, to reddish or yellowish. However their uniform color conceals them well whether it be in a forest or on an open hillside. Kittens are spotted which helps to conceal them in their den.

Once the Florida Panther ranged throughout Florida and much of the southeastern United States. Now they are found mostly in national and state parks in southwestern Florida. Due to a variety of reasons they have now become one of the most endangered animals in the world.

The Florida Panther has a relatively broad and flat skull with highly-arched nasal bones. This gives them a “Romanesque” appearance. It has smaller paws and its legs are slightly longer than those of its cousin, the cougar. Panther sign or tracks are an asymmetrical pawprint, with 3 lobbed pads surrounded by 4 toes. Normally no claw marks will show, but if they do they will be small sharp points.

Another panther sign is Territorial marking. Scat, a pile of leaves and earth raked up by the hind paws and urinated or defecated on with the rake marks being about 6” long. Other markings are urine and droppings and tree and earth scrapings.

Finally remains of a kill are another sign. The bite marks will be on the back of the neck, base of the skull, or throat and the tooth marks will be 2” apart. The panther communicates by low growls, whistles, chirps, hissing, and purring sounds. The most identifiable sound is the panther’s scream, but this is not heard very often. In fact Florida panther sightings are very rare. However if you should spot one, the Fish and Game Commission should be notified. If you find an injured panther you should notify the Wildlife Service or Fish and Game Commission immediately.

Panthers are primarily solitary animals, but they do have a social structure. They do not mate for life or live in prides, but each animal has his own home range or territory which he maintains and hunts. Often these territories overlap with potential mates. Panther males will not tolerate other males and will fight to the death if necessary. The females are more tolerant of each other and have a smaller territory than the males. The males territory can reach 250 sq. miles, whereas the females is 70- 200 sq. miles.

Panthers are most active at dawn and dusk. They can range for 15-20 miles a day often using a zig-zag pattern. They rest during the daytime hours however, and do their hunting and travel during the cooler hours of the night. They have a keen sense of smell and a wide range of vision. They are also good swimmers and will cross wide bodies of water.

Their preferred method of hunting is to creep up as close to their prey as possible, and launch a short spring attack. Panthers do become used to man-made noises and will cross roads. They are attracted to woodland fires, and may stay near burned sites for days whereas other wildlife such as deer will move on to other vegetation. When a human approaches, the panther will either be still, disappear or try to circle around behind.

The panther’s diet is generally white-tailed deer, hog, raccoons, armadillo, small alligator, and other rodents and fowl. Deer and hog are the preferred prey. They will be taken every 7 days or so and the diet will be supplemented in between by smaller prey.

Panther habitat is usually upper dryland and wetland areas. They like the hardwood hammock, saw and palmetto thickets, pine flatlands, as well as the cypress forest, thicket swamps, and freshwater marsh. Females mature faster than males and have been known to conceive as early as 18 months, but generally the average breeding age is 2-3 years. The breeding season generally falls between October and March, with kittens being born in the spring. The gestation period is 92-96 days. They usually produce one litter every 2 years with an average litter size of1-3 kittens.

Kittens are born blind, are spotted, and their eyes are blue. Their eyes are open at two to three weeks. Kittens are helpless and remain near the den for the first two months of life. They are weaned and introduced to meat at 6-8 weeks which the mother brings back to the den. The first 6 months of the kittens life are the most dangerous. The cubs have a better chance for survival in an area with dense vegetation and large prey nearby.

When the kittens are old enough they travel with their mother and learn to hunt and the survival skills they will need to go out on their own. By 4-6 months they lose the spotted markings and turn the buff color. By 18 months they have the hunting skills and will shortly leave their mother, but they may continue to travel together for a time.

The causes of death among panthers are:

1. Injuries due to cat fights.
2. Collisions with motor vehicles.
3. Illegal hunting.
4. Mercury poisoning.
5. Disease.
6. Death from allergic reaction to anesthesia.
7. Harmful effects due to inbreeding could cause the loss of the species altogether.
8. Pseudo rabies or PRV which is found in feral hogs.
9. Feline distemper (Panleukopenia)
10. Calcivirus which is a respiratory disorder
11. Congenital Heart defect - a hole in the heart as a result of inbreeding.
12. Parasites such as ticks, tapeworm, hookworm, intestinal flukes, and even ringworm
13. Starvation due to poor nutrition, old age, and ill health.

As a Floridian, here for 32 years, I want to see this species start to make a comeback. I cannot conceive of this state being without the Florida Panther. His contribution to the ecological chain is important for the preservation of the areas he roams, including the Everglades. There are things you can do to help.

Write to your congressman and tell him how you feel and encourage his support of a bill to protect these animals.

Become more aware of the information available on this wonderful panther. Help others to become more educated on the habits and nature of the panther and its contribution to the balance of nature.

Attend public meetings on the Florida Panther and its preservation as well as other animals that may be endangered.

Make wildlife a family project. Display panther bumper stickers and visit areas where the panther lives.

Above all don’t be silent. Be aware and make others aware. Speak out every chance you get and tell others about the plight of the Florida Panther. You may help a beautiful animal survive!


Resources:
The Florida Panther Society
Florida Panther Net