The Florida Panther
(felis concolor coryi)
By Doug Alderson
Photograph by James D. Watt,
Seapics.com
Then you think of the Florida panther today, an image of the Everglades
immediately comes to
mind. That's because most panthers are now found south of Lake Okeechobee
in the Big Cypress/Everglades region of Florida. It wasn't always the
case. Florida's big cats were once widely distributed throughout the
Southeast, being one of over 20 subspecies of cougars. The Everglades/Big
Cypress region is not necessarily prime habitat for the panther, but it is
the largest chunk of relatively undisturbed wilderness remaining in its
former domain.
The good news is that panther numbers are rising. From an estimated 30
individuals 20 years ago, researchers now estimate the panther population
at 70-100 individuals in the wild. "It's a good feeling to know we have
helped reverse the decline in the cats' population," said Darrell Land,
head of the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) panther field research
efforts in south Florida. "Our studies show that the panther population
has a high likelihood of surviving through the 21st century based upon
today's habitat availability.
"However, the big challenge continues to be preserving panther habitat
into the future." One hurdle has always been the panthers' requirement for
huge territories. Male panthers range over 150 to 450 square miles; female
panthers about 60 to 100 square miles. Male panther ranges rarely overlap
with each other while the smaller female ranges can be totally immersed
into a male range and often overlap with several female ranges. Panthers
are solitary animals except during mating season or when a mother panther
raises young.
Female panthers have one to four kittens. Young panthers stay with their
mother up to two years; the mother teaches them how to hunt and defends
them from male panthers and other threats. An individual panther needs to
kill a deer or hog every seven to 10 days to remain healthy, but a female
with young may need one every three days. Smaller animals such as raccoons
and armadillos can sometimes sustain an individual panther, but it cannot
fulfill the energy needs of a nursing mother. For this reason, the
availability of large prey animals such as deer and hogs in panther
habitat is critical to their survival.
Florida panthers are generally darker (tawny or reddish brown), smaller in
body size and they have different skull dimensions than other panther
subspecies. White flecks from repeated tick bites dot the back of the neck
and shoulders, a swirl or cowlick can be found in the back of the neck and
the long tail often has a crook or kink at the end. Some of these traits
may be the result of inbreeding within a small population.
According to Land, several measures have contributed to the survivability
of panthers. They include the introduction of Texas cougars, the Florida
panthers' closest cousins. The cougars have strengthened the gene pool for
panthers. Wildlife crossings and adjacent right-of-way fencing has also
proven effective, projects that need to extend to more highways as
panthers expand their habitat base.
The key to panther recovery is public support and proper funding for
research, management efforts and habitat restoration and protection.
You can aid in the recovery by purchasing a
Florida
panther license plate for an additional $25 or by contributing
directly to the FWC's Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund.
John Tyson is a professional nature photographer/writer residing in
Eustis.
Images are copyrighted.
Please contact Florida Wildlife Magazine for
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