Length: 6 to 7 feet

Weight: 60 to 130 pounds

Number of Young: up to 6

Home: Florida

Status: Endangered

The Florida panther is a medium-size cat with dark, tawny coat, Flattened forehead, and prominent nose. Its face is dark, but upper lips, Chin, and throat are white. Adult males weigh from 100 to 130 pounds And are as much as 7 feet long from nose to tip of the tail; females weigh 60 to 80 pounds and measure about 6 feet from tip to tip. Identifying Characteristics of the Florida panther are a distinctive crook at the very End of the tail, a whorl or cowlick in the middle of the back, and an Irregular white flecking across the head, neck and shoulders.

The Florida panther stalks its prey, then pounces and grabs at the throat Or back. Often the panther will hide the uneaten portion of its catch, Covering it with brush and leaves, and return to it till the meat is no Longer good. Their principal preys are the white tailed deer and armadillos, But it will take other prey, such as wild hogs, raccoons, and other small Animals and birds. It sometimes also eats grass.

Panthers begin to breed at about three years of age. From December Through February, the females initiate courtship and males fight for first Breeding privileges. Gestation is about 90 days and up to six kittens May be born. Young panthers stay close to their mother for about two Years. The Florida panther generally needs subtropical, dense forests Composed mainly of trees, shrubs, and vines in low-lying, swampy areas.

It has also been found at times in pine forests. To thrive it requires large Areas-as much as 116 sq. miles for typical male territory-free of human Disturbance.

Another Fact

The female alone is responsible For raising the kittens. During the First 2 to 3 weeks after giving birth The female spends most of her time In the den nursing her kittens. Panther kitty 

Another Fact

Panthers can live up to 12 years or More in the wild. Female kittens Have a good chance of living 10 Years or more. Males have a Tougher time, but if they can Survive to 5 or 6 years, they too Are likely to live to 10 or more Years of age.

Another Fact

Florida Panthers don't hang out in Trees. There are many pictures of Them in trees because they are Trying to escape from tracking dogs Scientists use to temporarily Capture them for radio collaring and Medical care.

Another Fact

What are the major causes of Florida panther mortality? 

Highways. When Alligator Alley was converted to I-75 In 1993, underpasses were constructed to aid the Crossing of panthers and other wildlife. A smaller wildlife Crossing design more suited for two-lane highways, was Developed and installed on State Road 29 north of I-75. Since completion of the underpasses, no panther has Been killed on the former Alligator Alley.

Another Fact

Hunting is instinctive in all cats. Though Domestic cats "hunt," what to do  with prey When caught appears a learned behavior. Domestic cats with mothers that are hunters ("Mousers") are likely to have better Hunting skills as their mothers spend time Showing them how to hunt for food.

And that’s it the most important things bout the panther: -

Only 30 to 50 panthers still remain in Florida, making this One of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world. The tawny Florida Panther is a subspecies of cougar that has Adapted to the subtropical environment of Florida. Florida Panthers are usually found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, And mixed swamp forests.

Adult males may range over an area of 200 square miles, while Females range over a 70 to 80 square mile area. 

By far the greatest threat to the Florida Panther is loss of habitat.  The refuge area has long been known as an important Florida Panther habitat. Several female panthers have had litters and raised kittens on the Refuge in recent years. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission monitors Panther activity using radio telemetry collars. They fly three times A week to aerially locate each radio collared panther. These techniques Provide vital information to scientists.

The swamps and pinelands panthers occupy also provide us with Clean air and water, as well as thousands of species of birds, Mammals, reptiles and plants. 

Mission of the Panther Refuge  
To conserve and manage lands and waters in concert with other agency Efforts within the Big Cypress Watershed, primarily for the Florida Panther, other endangered and threatened species, natural diversity, And cultural resources for the benefit of the American people.

The Refuge System

The National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1966 includes measures To preserve ecosystems for endangered species, perpetuate migratory Bird species, preserve natural diversity, and create public Appreciation for wildlife protection. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administer the refuge system, An agency of the Department of the Interior.  The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge is one of the 58 refuges Established under the authority of the Endangered Species Act. 

Refuge Location

The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge lies 20 miles east of Naples, Florida. Interstate 75 parallels the south boundary; State Road 29 parallels the east boundary. 

Mission of the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge 

To be an active advocate of the refuge and support its programs.  To promote a better understanding and appreciation of the Endangered Florida Panther and how the existence of this Animal can enrich our lives.  To strive to support and improve the status of the Florida Panther in the wild.

MIAMI BEACH - With its Roman nose, gray coat and lethal jaws, The Florida panther was once a figure of mythological power roaming The southeastern United States. But by 1967, when the cats were Listed as endangered, hunting and development had isolated the Panthers in the undeveloped swamps and forests of South Florida and Had cut their population to 30. 

Although they continued to reproduce, evidence mounted that the big, Solitary cats - males weigh 130 to 140 pounds; females, 80 to 90 Pounds - had become dangerously inbred. With kinked tails and Cowlicks, recessive traits manifested in no other subspecies, the Panthers were vulnerable to disease and parasitism and were prone To heart abnormalities. Too many males showed signs of fertility Problems.

But now the Florida panther (Puma councilor Cory), a subspecies of The cougar is on the verge of a remarkable comeback. In a bold Effort to restore genetic diversity, wildlife biologists four years ago Imported a handful of females from a closely related subspecies, a Texas cougar. Uprooted from the arid hills of West Texas, three of The imports died, but the remaining five adapted to swamp life and Gave birth to 17 kittens. Several of these have now produced as many As seven second generation hybrids, bring the total population to Between 50 and 70 adults and kittens.

In at least one instance, a first-generation male hybrid mated with an Unrelated Texas female and a first-generation hybrid female, According to Darrell land, panther section leader for the Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission. The hybrid kittens do not Have cowlicks or kinked tails, and they appear more robust than their Pure cousins do.

Still, in the arcane politics of the Florida Panther, success also breeds Debate. Dr. David Maher, assistant professor of forestry at the University of Kentucky and former project leader of the recovery Effort frets that the larger, browner, flatter-nosed cougar could Dominate the panther's genetic makeup. He wants the Texas cougars And their offspring by first-generation hybrids removed.

Other biologists dismiss such concerns. Dr. Stephen O'Brien, chief of The National Cancer Institute's genomic diversity laboratory, said the Various subspecies of the puma- also called mountain lions, panthers, Catamounts and cougars - were genetically indistinguishable. O'Brien Paved the way for the revitalization program when he showed that Historically the puma was a single, unbroken population, ranging from northern Canada to Tierra del Forego and that it mated regularly Across subspecies.

SARASOTA - Two groups involved with Florida panther issues, Including one from Sarasota, are asking for an audit of the profits from The sale of license plates designed to help the endangered cat. The Groups say it's unclear whether residents who pay $27 extra each year For the popular specialty tag understand that not all the money directly Benefits or protects panthers.

"We're not saying anybody is doing anything illegal or wrong. What We’re saying is funds are being expended out of that trust fund that Should be more directed to the panther," said Sumner Mattes, a Member of Sarasota in Defense of Animals. The group and the states Panther Technical Advisory Committee asked for the audit. Previously, State auditors have declined examining how the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spends the money, partly because of Legislature-imposed restraints. But they will take the matter under Advisement, said David F. West berry, a state auditor. Asked whether There’s a problem, "I won't know until I go look," he said. 

The $27 annual panther-tag fee is in addition to yearly car registration Costs paid to the state, which vary depending on vehicle weight. The Panther fee includes $25 for the cost of the tag, plus a $2 processing Fee. Panther activists believe that motorists aren't aware that perhaps As little as $5 of the $27 gets to panther-specific programs.

Critics charge that the rest goes to a variety of programs, including Monitoring the water quality of the Hillsborough River and the teaching Of bird watching to Hernando County elementary and middle school Children. "The people of Florida are paying extra money to get a Panther tag because they feel like they're supporting the Florida Panther," said Jack Pons of the Panther Technical Advisory Committee, which advises state officials about the endangered animal. 

The panther plate has raised $24 million since the Legislature Approved it in 1990, including $3.4 million last year. With 322,000 Issued, the plate is the second most popular of the state's 40 specialty Tags behind the $15 manatee plate. In July and again last month, Sarasota in Defense of Animals requested that the Auditor General's Office investigate how the state's wildlife commission spends the Money. Matches said he feels "stonewalled" by the lack of response. The group questioned why, for instance, the panther fund would give $100,000 to a children's museum in Broward County and $145,000 to Two wildlife sanctuaries in Brevard and Charlotte counties. 

State Sen. John McKay, R-Bradenton, said it seems like a simple Request. "Tell me what you're doing with the funds is absolutely no big deal," he said. Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates Said her office provides basic literature on the 40 tags, but it's Impossible to guarantee for motorists where every penny goes.

"I have to assume that someone (in Tallahassee) is monitoring that," She said. Motorist Julie Kuehn of Sarasota, who has a panther plate on Her car, said she would be upset if most panther proceeds don't go to Their "intended purpose." 

This isn't the first time questions have arisen about funds derived from Florida's specialty license plates. The Challenger plate, the first special License tag, was created to raise funds for a memorial to the seven Astronauts who died in the space shuttle disaster in 1986. But auditors In 1994 found that the monument foundation misspent tag dollars while Securing loans for a private Houston company. This year legislators Tried to deplete the trust fund generated by protect-the-manatee tags By nearly $900,000 -- one, a $500,000 project for the Lowry Park Zoo, Which would have had nothing to do with manatees.

In the panther situation, auditors would find nothing wrong with the way Funds are spent, said commission Executive Director Allan Egbert. He Said the spending of funds is approved each year by the Legislature. The folks demanding an audit "feel like because it's a panther license Plate, everything ought to be spent totally on the panther," said Egbert. What they forget, he said, is that "the Legislature can appropriate Money any way they want."

Many people ask: Why should we save the panther? Species go extinct As part of natural selection. Why should we spend all this time and Money trying to save one species? 

First, I would agree that extinction is part of the natural order, however the Rate at which species are becoming endangered or going extinct far Exceeds natural process and it is the result of the human deterioration of Our environment. Actually, there are a great number of reasons to protect This cat. I would like to share a few with you.

- The panther is the "coal miner’s canary" of the South Florida Ecosystem or the Everglades. Early in mining history, miners brought down Caged canaries deep into the mineshafts to let them know how safe the air Was. The canaries, which are very sensitive to lack of air or dangerous air Quality conditions, would become sick or perish long before the miners Could detect an air problem. The panther is our barometer for the health Of the South Florida environment, which includes humans. The panther Is an animal of the wilderness, it requires vast stretches of undeveloped Land to survive. These same lands provide habitat to many other plant and Animal species, soak up the 55+ inches of rain we receive each year, purify And recharge our drinking water aquifers, and provide abundant Recreational and ecotourism opportunities. The loss of the panther and Panther habitat will in turn result in greater flooding of our developed Communities, greater expenditures to produce drinking water through Purification and desalination, loss of dollars to the economy, and the General degradation of our quality of life in South Florida.

- We often refer to the panther as a flagship or "umbrella" species for South Florida. The panther is at the top of the South Florida species food Chain. Protecting panther habitat also protects black bear, bald eagles, River otters, swallow-tailed kites, alligators, red-cockaded woodpeckers, Eastern indigo snakes, green tree frogs, zebra long wing butterflies, and a Myriad have specialized plants that grow in South Florida. Did you know that the Fakahatchee Strand has over 30 species of orchids? More orchids Can be found in the strand than anywhere else in the United States. Many of These orchids are rare and endangered due to drainage of valuabl wetlands And poaching.

- Maintaining a "diversity of species" is important. Some species have Directly benefited humans. All types of wild plants and fungi have provided Medicines and cures for diseases and human maladies. We also Continue to develop food plants derived from wild stocks. Research and Experiments on other animal species has advanced our understanding of Science and human health. In addition, this diversity adds to the quality Of our life. We all appreciate nature in one form or another. I’m a bird Watcher, I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed the times that I have been Fortunate enough to observe 20 species of warblers on a day in April during Spring bird migration. The males are all in beautiful breeding plumage, They have just traveled thousands of miles from their wintering areas in South America and many will travel several thousand more to breeding Grounds in the northern U.S. and Canada. When I witness such  natural Wonders, I am humbled by the grand order of nature and feel privileged to Experience these moments. It saddens me to think those future generations May not. Whether we like to watch birds, enjoy the song of a wailing loon, The bugling of a bull elk, or discover a panther track in soft mud, these Natural events enhance our life on earth. Species diversity is important to Science, medicine, our economy, and the quality of life. We cannot afford to Lose species to human actions that are preventable. 

Lastly, we must think of these species as other organisms that share with Us this planet earth. We are all struggling to survive within this finite Environment of air, water, and minerals. If we can not preserve other Species, we will have a difficult time preserving the human race. 

We need your help to protect our wildlife. I encourage you to become Members of the "Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge", because this Group is fighting to protect the panther and help the refuge set aside for its Protection. Although this endangered panther is located only in South Florida, the battle for its protection against extinction is one that should be Of concern to all Americans, no matter where they live.

But there was a plan released to protect the panther

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (FPNWR). The plan will guide the operation of the Refuge for the next ten to fifteen years. 

"The plan is important because it outlines provisions that will help the Florida panther, additional Threatened and endangered species, and the other wildlife on the refuge, yet provide unique wildlife Viewing opportunities for the public," said Southeast Regional Director Sam. D. Hamilton. "I Wish to thank all the people who helped pull this plan together. It was truly a community project." 

Hamilton went on to say that the plan’s benefits for the panther include: 

• Providing optimal habitat conditions on the refuge, 

• Conducting research to determine panther habitat needs,

• Protecting off-refuge lands through cooperative land management actions,

• Partnering with private landowners to improve their lands for panther use,

• And developing programs that promote public understanding of the panther’s needs.

Planning and development of the CCP began in 1997. This effort incorporated a variety of Stakeholders comprised of private citizens, farmers adjacent to the refuge, conservation groups, Sportsmen and women, and local and state government agencies. The public provided input into the Plan through scooping meetings and community forums that fielded a variety of issues throughout the Process. The final plan was developed from public comment on a draft plan and from additional input From the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC). Public desires to gain Access to the refuge was included in the plan’s development with two primary opportunities selected As the best compatible uses.

"Thanks to all the input from the public, we are now able to focus on two excellent public use Options," said Refuge Manager Jim Krakowski. "This should give everyone the chance to see This unique and vital habitat while accomplishing the primary purpose of Florida panther recovery."

Krakoskwi said the two public use sites would be developed to have minimal impact on panthers while Fostering public awareness and understanding of refuge resources. 

First, a short interpretive trail in an area of low panther use will be created to promote Understanding of a mosaic of habitats found on the refuge, including hardwood hammocks, pine Forests, and wet prairie. The trail will be developed in collaboration with the Friends of the Florida Panther refuge. The trail will be an important link for people to learn more about the Florida panther And the many challenges it faces.

Second, a water bird viewing area along SR 29 will be created to enable the public to see a wide Variety of birds, including endangered wood storks, great egrets, white ibis, little blue herons, and Other wading birds. Another public use that will be considered in the future is fishing. Fishing at Pistol Pond will be evaluated after evaluating its feasibility for safety and other logistical concerns. 

"Access to the refuge and hunting were the most often discussed issues," said Krakow ski. "After a Great deal of discussion and evaluation, we determined that allowing deer hunting on this refuge would Not be in the best interest of providing a safe place for the Florida panther, which is our primary Purpose."

Although the draft plan proposed studies to determine the compatibility of deer hunting on the refuge, Many public comments suggested that would not be cost efficient. Extensive post-draft consultations With FFWCC indicated that the Commission felt that a compatibility determination should be made Without further study. While the Service does support managed deer hunts across several public land Areas in southwest Florida, the need for an additional deer hunting area is not critical. 

"Hunters already have access to more than 540,000 acres in the Big Cypress Basin area," said Krakowski. "We need to save this piece of Florida for panthers."

Other reasons factored into the no-hunt decision. The refuge, like much of South Florida, does not Have an overabundance of deer, the main prey item of the panther. Additionally, there is a chance That a hunter could shoot a panther. For example, in 1998, a Texas cougar that was part of the Florida panther genetic restoration program was shot on private lands. The refuge serves as an Important research and demonstration area for applied panther habitat management. Hunting has the Potential of interfering with these projects such as animal monitoring, the establishment of vegetative Plots and other panther habitat enhancement. A limited number of final plans are available from the Refuge headquarters and can be obtained by calling (941) 353-8442, between 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, Protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which Encompasses more than 520 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special Management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 Ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, Conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their Conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of Dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. 

The panther finding food