A
bold journey is under way to restore America’s Everglades. Led by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management
District, the restoration program is guided by the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan, called “CERP.”
The Picayune Strand Restoration Project is the first CERP project under construction. The project will restore 55,000 acres
of wetlands and adjacent uplands in southwest Florida that are commonly used by the Florida panther. It is almost entirely
surrounded by public lands; its restoration will establish critical connectivity between these natural areas.
Decades ago, construction of infrastructure for a now-abandoned residential community once called Southern Golden
Gate Estates included excavating four large canals and building a network of roads. This disrupted natural water flow,
over-drained the area and degraded the coastal estuarine ecosystem. The restoration project will fill canals, remove old
roads, sculpt spreader swales, and construct pump stations. Together, these components will redirect fresh water flow over
historic wetlands while maintaining flood protection on land outside the project area. The project will also improve water
quality in the coastal estuary.
How did the Corps of Engineers become involved in a Florida panther study? During planning of the Picayune Strand
Restoration Project, resource agencies asked the Corps to perform a panther-prey survey. The Corps provided funding for
the research to David Shindle, an accomplished biologist at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. The study documented
both the pre-restoration panther use of the area as well as that of their primary prey. The study provides a valuable
benchmark for future monitoring and evaluation. The events experienced and data collected during the baseline survey
provided the inspiration for Trails and Tails.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers thanks its many partners for their contributions to this publication. Special thanks are
extended to all who have worked to save the Florida panther. This publication is based on the excellent work done by many
others. Profound appreciation and deep respect are extended to the members of the Florida panther capture teams for their
important, complicated and challenging work. The personal communications of their stories have made the leap from the
concept of saving an endangered species, to the reality of doing so.
Special thanks to Erica Robbins, Outreach Program Specialist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for her dedication and
enthusiasm in preparing this document. Erica’s commitment to the Everglades, all of its wildlife, and to excellence in
environmental education is boundless. She is an inspiration for her colleagues and a priceless resource for the countless
children and adults who seek to understand and experience the Everglades. Essential support and assistance were provided
by David Shindle of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the principal investigator of the Pre-construction Panther
Prey Baseline Monitoring Survey for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project; and to Mark Lotz, Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, for generously sharing his photos, knowledge and adventures and for providing a glimpse into the
world of panthers minus the long hours, climbs, crawls, weather and mosquitoes that he had to endure.
Additional thanks to Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuges,
Everglades National Park, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service South Florida Field Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, Collier County, University of Florida IFAS Extension, and the Florida Wildlife Federation.
Trails & Tails is an unofficial publication authorized under the provisions of AR 360-1 and published by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Fla. 32232-0019. Comments
regarding this publication are encouraged and may be sent to nanciann.e.regalado@usace.army.mil.
Printed on recycled paper
Cover photo by Glen Stacell
2010
Contents
TRAILS & TAILS
20
2
Where have all the
Florida panthers gone?
6
8
Panther scientists are
working hard to save
the Florida panther
What’s in a name?
Identifying a Florida panther
12
16
18
Panther sign
and behavior
Panthers are fighting
to survive
Saving the Florida panther
24
Capturing and collaring
panthers - the process
in photos
Kittens and
den work
26
30
People and panthers:
32
Turning back time for Picayune
Strand and the Florida panther
What you can do to help save
the Florida panther
Where have all the Florida panthers gone?
T
he shy and elusive
Florida panther is
the last subspecies
of Puma still surviving in the
eastern U.S.
Hunting, reductions in their
primary prey and destruction of
natural areas have taken a toll
on the panther population. By
the 1970s, the cats were on the
brink of extinction, with only
12 to 20 adults remaining.
Historically living throughout
the southeastern U.S., today
the panther is restricted to less
than 5 percent of its historic
range with only one breeding
population of about 100 adults
in south Florida.
Florida panthers are
endangered by a combination
of small population size,
isolation and loss of habitat.
Because so few Florida
panthers remain, the U.S.
government and the state of
Florida have identified it as an
“endangered species.”
photo by Glen Stacell
2
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Endangered Species
Today, most Americans
appreciate and value the natural
resources of the United States.
However, environmental awareness
and the idea of “going green” are
relatively recent concepts. Hundreds
of years of population growth and
destruction of natural lands caused
a dramatic reduction of the quantity
and quality of natural resources.
Many plant and animal species
have suffered drastic declines in
population. Some have even become
extinct, such as the Dusky Seaside
Sparrow that lived on the east coast
of Florida and was last seen in 1987.
Environmental awareness grew
in the 1960s and the U.S. Congress
passed the Endangered Species
Preservation Act in 1966, providing
a means for listing native animal
species as endangered and giving
them limited protection. The Florida
panther was among the first group of
species to be federally listed as an
endangered species in 1967 under
the Endangered Species Preservation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS) is the agency that
administers Listing and Recovery
Programs under the ESA. The agency
determines whether to add a species
to the federal list
of endangered and
threatened wildlife
and plants. Once
listed, a species
receives the full
range of protections
available under the
ESA. It is illegal
to “...harm, harass, pursue, hunt,
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or
collect any threatened or endangered
species” or even to try to do so.
It is illegal to “...harm, harass,
pursue, hunt, shoot, wound,
kill, trap, capture, or collect
any threatened or endangered
species” or even to try to do so.
Act, and later transferred to the list of
threatened and endangered species
under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA) of 1973.
The stated purpose of the
Endangered Species Act is
to protect species and “the
ecosystems upon which they
depend.” The primary goal is
to prevent the extinction of
imperiled plant and animal life,
and secondly, to recover and
maintain those populations by
removing or lessening threats to
their survival. It was designed
to protect critically imperiled
species from extinction as a
“consequence of economic
growth and development
untempered by adequate
concern and conservation.”
TRAILS & TAILS
3
The FWS also creates Recovery
Plans for endangered species that
describe the actions required to
recover and protect listed species using
the best available science. Recovery
Plans outline the goals, tasks required,
likely costs, and estimated timelines
to recover endangered species, as
well as specific recovery objectives
and criteria to be met to reclassify
(downlist) and eventually delist species
under the Endangered Species Act. The
ultimate goal is to “recover” species –
to increase their numbers and improve
their management so they no longer
need protection under the ESA and can
be removed from the list of threatened
and endangered species.
One of the best-known success
stories of species recovery under the
ESA is the national symbol of the U.S.,
the bald eagle. Bald eagle populations
severely declined due to hunting,
habitat loss and the use of a powerful
Florida Panther Breeding Ranges
Historic
Current
4
TRAILS & TAILS
insecticide known as DDT. DDT and
other chemicals become increasingly
concentrated in the tissues of each
animal along the food chain, and
the eagle was at the top of the food
chain. DDT made bald eagle eggshells
so fragile that they were crushed as
mother birds sat on their nests.
In a national effort to save the iconic
bird, the federal government banned the
use of DDT in 1972 and placed the bald
eagle under protection of the Endangered
Species Act, which allowed
the government to protect
bald eagle habitat. In
1963, there were only
417 breeding pairs in the
continental U.S. Today,
there are more than 9,000
breeding pairs.
The combined effort
of the FWS and state
wildlife agencies also
saved the American
alligator, an important
animal in the Florida
Everglades ecosystem.
When it was listed as
endangered under the
ESA in 1987, alligator
hunting was prohibited
and the species was
able to rebound. Twenty
years after receiving
protection under the
ESA, the American
alligator was pronounced
fully recovered and
was removed from the
endangered species list.
Although the
American alligator is secure, some
related animals such as crocodiles
are still in trouble. For this reason,
the FWS continues to protect the
alligator under the ESA classification
of “threatened due to similarity of
appearance.” The FWS regulates the
harvest and trade of alligators as part
of an effort to prevent the illegal take
and trafficking of endangered “lookalike” reptiles, such as the crocodile.
Extinct
EX
EX
Endangered Threatened
E
E
Delisted
T
T
The Florida panther is
currently listed as endangered.
In response to a growing environmental movement in the 1960s, the U.S.
Congress passed landmark legislation consisting of laws that now form
the legal foundation for protection of our environment. Whenever the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers develops a project such as the Picayune Strand
Restoration Project, the agency must also consider and comply with these
laws, including these:
• The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 set goals and standards for U.S. air quality and purity.
• The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 set goals and standards for U.S. water quality and purity.
• The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 was designed to protect and recover endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife and plants in the United States and beyond. The law works in part by protecting habitat for the species.
TRAILS & TAILS
5
What’s in a name?
Scientific names
photo by David Shindle
To bring a level of consistency and
reliability to plant and animal names,
a single system for classification and
scientific naming was developed over
200 years ago. The same system is still
in use today.
A Swedish naturalist named
Carolus Linnaeus developed the
Linnaean system of classifying and
naming all plants and animals.
Linnaeus knew that common names
were unreliable for purposes of
permanent classification and caused
confusion. That is why, in 1758,
he created what we now call the
Linnaean classification system in
which each living organism is given a
name made up of two words, usually
derived from Latin or Greek.
The Linnaean system dictates that
the scientific name for an organism
include a genus name followed by
a species name. The genus name
is always capitalized. The second
word, the species name, is written in
lowercase letters. There may be a third
word for the name of the subspecies,
which is a population in a particular
geographical region distinguishable
from other populations of the
same species but still capable of
interbreeding successfully where its
ranges overlap.
Scientists have arranged
all living things in a
classification system that
shows how they are related.
Scientific Classification for
the Florida Panther
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Family:
Felidae
Genus:
Puma
Species:
concolor
Subspecies
coryi
Each type of creature in the
animal world has a unique scientific
name shared by no other. This
makes it possible for researchers to
communicate effectively with other
scientists throughout the world.
They all know they are talking
about the same type of animal, no
matter what language they speak
or discipline they study. Few other
animals exemplify the importance
of scientific names more than the
“cat of many names.” Puma, cougar,
mountain lion, catamount, tiger,
painter and panther are but a few
of the common names used for the
same animal.
The scientific name for the Florida
panther is Puma concolor coryi. In the
languages of some of the indigenous
6
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tribes of South America, Puma
means “mighty magic animal” or “a
powerful animal.” Concolor means
“one color.” The subspecies name,
coryi, comes from naturalist Charles
Barney Cory, who first described the
characteristics of this subspecies. It is
pronounced “cor-ee-eye.”
for tracking, study and
reporting purposes.
When adult
panthers are captured,
they are given a special
collar with a radiotracking device and are
identified using “FP”
Puma means “mighty magic
animal” or “a powerful animal.”
Scientific names are written in
italics in printed materials like this:
Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi).
When written by hand, each word
of the scientific name is underlined
separately like this: Florida panther
(Puma concolor coryi).
Identification of
individual panthers
Scientists have also created a
system to identify individual panthers
(Florida Panther) and a
number. An example of
an individual panther
would be FP170.
Panthers whose identification
begins with a K (Kitten) are those
cats that were handled as kittens
less than one month old in the den
and marked with a transponder
chip under the skin, but not a collar
(kittens would quickly outgrow a
collar). If the kitten is later captured
and collared, its identification
changes from a K to an FP.
Panthers identified with a “UCFP”
(Uncollared Florida Panther) are
those recovered after injury or death
(usually after being hit by a car) and
that were never radio-collared by
researchers or handled and marked
as kittens in the den.
Panthers are members of the animal kingdom that are:
• Vertebrates – Animals with a backbone which consists of ring-like bones called vertebrae that
protect the soft spinal cord. Humans can feel vertebrae by touching the center of the back.
• Mammals – Mammals are warm blooded (body temperature remains the same although their
surroundings might change), have a covering of hair on their skin and milk-producing mammary
glands for nourishing their young.
• Carnivores – Animals that eat mainly meat.
TRAILS & TAILS
7
Identifying a Florida panther
A
nimals such as bobcats are
often mistaken for Florida
panthers. Taking a close look
at several distinctive features can help
people tell the difference between Florida
panthers and close relatives.
Adult Florida panthers are not
black! They are a tawny cinnamon-buff
color, similar to deer, their favorite prey.
The fur on their bellies and the inside
of their legs is a light creamy white. The
back of the ears and the tip of the tail
are black. The Florida panther’s light
brown color helps it blend well into the
vegetation of its habitat.
Young Florida panthers, called kittens,
have spotted coats that provide effective
camouflage for these vulnerable animals.
The fur of a Florida panther is well
suited to the southern Florida landscape.
1
Its fur is quite short, not soft and long,
like the fur of domesticated cats, or
other panther relatives. According to
Mark Lotz, a panther biologist with the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, “Western cougars have
thicker and longer fur because they’ve
adapted to the colder climate they live
in, but Florida panthers don’t need thick
fur to keep them warm. The fur of an
adult Florida panther is really short and
tight against the body, and feels much
like that of a Doberman or other similar
short-haired dogs.”
2
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
photo by Kathleen Smith, FWC
3
4
photo by FWC
photo by Mark Lotz
8
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1
A radio-collared adult female,
FP110, takes a stroll as her dependent
kittens playfully follow. Kittens rely on
the adult female for protection and
food. Adult females also teach their
kittens how to hunt, avoid hazards and
move throughout their range. Does the
fur of a panther kitten feel like the fur
of an adult? Mark Lotz describes the
difference this way, “Panther kittens
don’t have that smooth feel like a
domestic kitten. The fur is soft like yarn
or fleece, and almost fuzzy.”
An older, dependent kitten stays
close to its mother. It has lost most of
the spots on its coat, which fade by the
time the kitten is six months old.
Male Florida panthers tend to be
larger than females. They are usually
huskier, have larger heads, and average
seven feet long (nose to tip of tail) and
130 pounds. An average adult female
is six feet long and weighs 80 pounds.
They are usually a little taller than two
feet high at the shoulder.
2
The adult Florida panther has
amber-colored eyes, but kittens
are born with blue eyes. By the
time a kitten is about six months
old, the bright blue eye color
has changed to amber. Florida
panthers have round pupils, unlike
domestic cats that have elliptical
pupils. Cats can see in color, but
not as well as humans can.
3
The shape of the Florida panthers’
skull distinguishes it from other cats.
The skull at left shows the arched
nasal bones of a Florida panther,
while the skull on the right belongs
to a non-Florida subspecies.
4
The arched nasal bones,
sometimes called a “Roman nose,”
give the Florida panther a smooth
convex and rounded profile from
nose tip to forehead.
5
This X-ray shows the kink in the last
few vertebrae of the tail. Some kinks are
obvious visually, but others can only be
found by feeling through the fur of the
tail during a hands-on examination.
6
During the early days of panther
research, scientists thought that
white flecks of hair on the back of
the neck (shown here in combination
with a cowlick) were another
characteristic unique to the Florida
panther. After further study, they
learned that this feature is probably
the result of scarring from tick bites
and not unique to panthers. That
makes sense because the location
on the back of the neck would be a
difficult spot for a panther to reach.
This is a good example of how
the body of scientific knowledge
changes over time, as researchers
make new discoveries.
6
5
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
photos by Mark Lotz, FWC
TRAILS & TAILS
9
Cowlicks and
kinked tails
Some Florida panthers have a middorsal cowlick, usually located in the
middle of the ridge on top of the spine
(“dorsal” means the “top” of an animal,
like the dorsal fin on a fish). The hair
of the cowlick whorls in a different
direction from the rest of the hair.
Cowlicks can be small or prominent.
The large number of cats with
a kinked tail and a cowlick in
the Florida panther population
relative to other puma populations
in North America was one of the
first indications that the panther
population in southwest Florida was
suffering from inbreeding. When there
are a limited number of individuals
mating, beneficial genetic diversity
is lost. Though these traits are not
harmful to the individual, they are
signs of a larger genetic problem
that threatens the long-term survival
of the species. Inbred or genetically
challenged individuals are less
capable of adapting to environmental
changes and suffer more health and
reproductive problems.
Panther life
Florida panthers are shy, solitary
animals and need a large territory to
roam. Males defend home ranges up
to 200 square miles that overlap the
smaller (80 square mile) territories
of several females. Male panthers
are regular Romeos, roaming their
territories looking for a female that is
10
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receptive to mating. The breeding pair
will spend only a few days together,
so capturing a photographic image
of two adult panthers is quite an
accomplishment. If the female does
not get pregnant, in another month
or so, she will likely be ready to mate
again, and the same or a different
male may visit her.
A dominant
male panther, in its
lifetime, will attempt
to mate many times
and with many
different females. For example, FP79,
nicknamed “Don Juan” was instrumental
in keeping his species from disappearing
by fathering at least 30 kittens over five
years with seven females.
Panthers can breed year-round, but
there is a peak in breeding activity from
December to March. Female panthers
produce litters throughout the year,
but about 60 percent of births occur
between March and June.
A female panther is pregnant for
only three months. Intimately familiar
with her territory, when it comes time
for her kittens to be born, it is likely
...about 60 percent of births
occur between March and June
that she will stay near an area that is
dry and protected with thick vegetation
that provides concealing cover and an
abundance of nearby prey. It is often in
a thicket of saw palmetto, but may be in
tall ferns or even in the invasive exotic
Brazilian pepper that the female panther
sexually mature at one and a half years
and males at three years. Kittens perfect
their hunting skills and are independent
by two years of age. At some point, the
mother will leave them while they are
feeding and won’t return. At this signal,
kittens need to find a territory and begin
their own families.
When female kittens become
independent, they normally don’t
travel very far, finding a territory
within or close to their mother’s
territory. In contrast, a male kitten
is “hard-wired” to roam, and
instinctively “disperses,” often
traveling far from its birthplace
to find unrelated individuals in
a new territory of his own. The
longest recorded straight-line
dispersal distance for a Florida
panther was documented when
UCFP123 was shot and killed in
Troup County, Georgia, at a distance
of approximately 500 miles from
his birthplace. This behavior is an
effective natural way to enhance
genetic diversity and maintain the
viability of a healthy species.
photo by David Shindle
will lie down on the ground and give
birth to a litter of one to four kittens,
usually averaging two. The kittens
are born with their eyes closed, but
somehow manage to find the mother’s
belly and nurse, drinking the milk her
body has produced to feed them.
After a few days, the kittens’ deep
blue eyes begin to open. At two months,
the kittens are ready to leave the den
and follow their mother on hunting
trips. At six months, their blue eyes turn
to amber and the spots on their coat
begin to fade. Female kittens are usually
An infrared-triggered camera captured an adult female Florida panther with her kittens that had recently
left their den to start learning how to hunt in the Picayune Strand.
TRAILS & TAILS
11
Panther sign and behavior
S
cientists, panther trackers,
hounds and even other
panthers use certain
distinctive panther sign to tell if the
cats have been nearby.
3
1
Tracks
The most obvious sign that a
panther has been in the area are
panther paw prints or tracks, which can
be left behind in damp sand and mud.
1 Panthers, like domestic house
cats, have retractable claws, and
claw marks are rarely visible in their
tracks. In contrast, the tracks made
by members of the dog family such
as coyotes usually show visible claw
marks. Think about the clicking
sounds a dog’s nails make as it
walks across the floor, compared
to the silence of a cat as it walks
softly across the room with its claws
retracted. However, claw marks may
be visible in panther tracks if they
were made in deep mud or if the cats
were running or pouncing, as kittens
often do when they play. Panthers are
predators and use their sharp claws
to grab and hold their prey, defend
themselves, and climb trees.
2 The underside of the front paw has
five toe pads and a pointy-looking carpal
pad (near where the wrist would be in
humans). Notice the “leading toe” – one
of the two middle toes sticks out further
than the other one does. The inside
toe is the leading toe, so this would
be the left front paw. Members of the
dog family have a distinctively different
12
TRAILS & TAILS
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
4
2
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
arrangement – two middle toes
that line up evenly with each other.
Panthers walk on their front toes and
not the whole “foot” as humans do.
The fifth toe pad on the inside of the
paw does not touch the ground when
the panther stands up, so only four toe
pads usually show up in tracks. Try to
put your fingers down flat on a table but
keep the heel of your hand up in the air
off the table. Your thumb will stick out
above the ground, just like that fifth toe
pad on a panther!
3 Both the front and back paws have
a large distinctive heel pad, with two
lobes in the front and three lobes in the
back. In contrast, members of the dog
family have heel pads with only one
lobe in the front and two in the back.
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
4
Adult panther FP158’s tracks
are about 3 inches square - much
larger than bobcat tracks, which are
otherwise similar.
The role of scent
Florida panthers primarily use scent
marking behaviors for communication.
Cats can learn several things about
the original cat that left the scent
mark: its identity, status (dominant or
subordinate), age, sex, reproductive state
and presence within its home range.
This type of communication is
suited to the solitary lifestyle of Florida
panthers because scents persist in the
environment for a relatively long time
compared to sounds and vocalizations.
Florida panthers do not have the
ability to roar, but they do purr, mew,
chirp, whistle, hiss, growl, and emit a
distinct scream know as the caterwaul.
Scat and scrapes
5
5
8
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
6
Panther scat, the technical name
for panther “poop”, may include
tufts of hair, hoof fragments or other
remains from prey animals (a pen is
used for size reference).
6 When a panther scrapes up leaf
litter with its back feet and urinates
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
on it, it’s called a scrape or urine
marker. Scrapes are an important form
7
of communication for panthers. Adult
males leave scrapes all year round,
but females scrape only when they
are receptive to mating and looking
for a partner. These scent markers can
last for weeks, and several panthers
may investigate and scrape the same
photo by David Shindle
spot. Scrapes have several functions.
They are critical in the spacing of
territory by scraping on top of an earlier
adults and help males locate females
scrape by male panther PSRPM3.
ready for mating. They help maintain
8 All cats possess a vomeronasal
the social structure of the population
organ located in the roof of the
as resident males mark their
mouth, which cats use mainly to
territories, warning young dispersing
detect pheromones or chemical
males to “keep on moving.” The
messages that carry information
panther that made this scrape was
between individuals of the same
facing toward the left and scraped
species. A male cat can detect a
backward with its hind feet (6-inch
female’s reproductive state based on
ruler used for size reference).
hormones in her urine. Adult male
7 Resident adult male panther PSRPM2
FP131 was captured by an infraredclaims that he is the top cat in his
photo by David Shindle
9
photo by David Shindle
triggered camera at 4 a.m. in the
Florida Panther National Wildlife
Refuge as he exhibits the “flehmen
response” to a fresh scrape.
9
It may look like adult female
FP140 is smiling for the camera, but
she is also exhibiting the flehmen
response to a fresh scrape when
caught on camera at 11:47 p.m. A
cat will open its mouth and curl up
its top lip to pull scents toward the
vomeronasal organ.
TRAILS & TAILS
13
10 Like bears and other animals,
panthers may leave a scratch on a
tree (a common multi-tool is used for
size comparison). Panthers hone their
claws by scratching on logs or trees
and may release scent from glands
in their paws. In south Florida the
preferred “scratching post” seems to
be fallen cabbage palms with smooth
trunks. Florida panthers will also rub
10
the sides of their faces on objects,
releasing chemicals from scent
glands on their cheeks.
11 This deer kill shows how wellcovered the cache is; the only visible
part is a bit of antler located at about
the two o’clock position.
12 Yawn…8 a.m. and the sun is up
– it’s time to find a nice palmetto
thicket to nap in during the heat of
the day. Panthers do
most of their hunting
and traveling at night,
especially near sunrise
(dawn) and in the
11
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
12
Adult panthers need
to consume at least
the equivalent of one
deer or hog per week
for survival.
three hours after sunset (dusk). This
activity pattern is termed crepuscular
and is derived from the Latin word
crepusculum, meaning “twilight.”
Panthers are a little bit more active
during the daytime during the winter
months, when the weather is cooler.
Kills
The carnivorous
Florida panther
is an ambush
predator. Once the
panther locates
prey nearby, it will
remain hidden and
quiet while slowly
photo by David Shindle
stalking and gaining
ground on the prey animal. This
method of hunting is related
to the cat’s small heart size in
relation to body size – they
are sprinters, not marathoners.
Once the cat is within pouncing
distance, it will leap out of
hiding and pounce on the prey.
Panthers can leap an amazing
15 feet from a standstill! With
special canine teeth, these cats
kill their prey by severing the
spinal cord from a bite to the
back of the neck, by suffocation
photo by Glen Stacell
14
TRAILS & TAILS
from a bite to the throat, or by a bite
to the skull of smaller animals.
The dominant prey species
of Florida panthers in southern
Florida are primarily white-tailed
deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and
feral hog (Sus scrofa) with raccoon
(Procyon lotor), nine-banded
armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus),
and marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)
being of secondary importance. They
may also eat rats, birds and even
small alligators.
Adult panthers need to consume
at least the equivalent of one deer or
hog per week for survival. Pregnant
female panthers or female panthers
nursing their dependent kittens need to
consume at least the equivalent of two
deer or hogs per week.
Panther kills can be identified by
the unique way that panthers eat and
conceal their prey. Typically the panther
will open the animal’s body cavity
and eat the nutritious vital organs first,
particularly the heart and liver. The ribs
are often chewed off, sometimes almost
down to the backbone. Next, they will
begin on the thigh muscles. When
the panther has its fill it will cover the
remains of its prey by raking leaf litter
and other ground debris on top of it. This
is known as a cache. This preserves the
carcass surprisingly well even in warm
temperatures. The panther will return
several times to continue feeding on the
carcass. Each time it will uncover the
remains, usually drag it a short distance
and feed, and then cover it again.
Every organism needs energy to maintain the vital processes of life. Both plants and animals get energy from food. The arrows in a food chain
show the flow of energy as it is transferred from the sun to plants (producers), to animals (consumers) and to organisms that cause decay
(decomposers). Plants (producers) use energy from the sun to make food. Animals cannot make their own food, but when they eat plants or other
animals the energy stored in the food source is passed on to them. As the energy flows from organism to organism, energy is lost at each step.
.
.
.
TRAILS & TAILS
15
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
, FW
ave Onorato
photo by D
1958 the panther was given complete
legal protection by the Florida Game
and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
It was removed from the native
game animal list and hunting Florida
panthers became illegal.
Yet, the panther population
continued to decline into the 1970s.
Biologists soon began to understand
that destruction of the panthers’
habitat was a principal cause of the
cats’ decline.
Today, the greatest threats to the
panther’s survival are a combination
of small population size, isolation
and loss of habitat.
photo by Bob Repenning
T
he number of Florida
panthers remaining in
the wild changes as new
kittens are born and panthers die from
various causes, but scientists estimate
that there are only about 100 to 120
Florida panthers in existence.
Many factors have contributed
to the decline in the Florida panther
population. In the 1800s and early
1900s, panthers were hunted, not only
for their fur, but because early settlers
considered them a threat to their safety
and to their livestock. Over time,
Americans developed a greater desire
to protect this country’s wildlife. In
C
Panthers are fighting to survive
This panther was lucky, but they don
’t
always make it across roads. High
way
mortalities increase as roads are buil
t and
additional cars use those roads.
What is inbreeding and
why is it a problem?
In the Florida panther population,
inbreeding is indicated in many
ways, including seemingly harmless
characteristics such as cowlicks and
crooks at the end of the tail.
Geographic isolation, habitat loss,
small population size and associated
inbreeding have led to a significant
16
TRAILS & TAILS
photo by Dave On
orato, FWC
photo by
Increasingly, panther territor
y is becoming people territor
y.
FGC
als
ging anim
wide-ran y cross
p
e
e
k
to
as the
es help
nderpass
bears safe When people
Wildlife u nthers and black
s.
e
ri
een
rrito
a
such as p
eir large te ide corridors betw
within th
v
as
d
ro
h
p
te
c
a
d
c
su
n
lo
a
s
roads
of land
” specie
a
ts
ll
c
a
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tr
b
e
ll
m
larg
ct “u
mbre a
preserve
can prote ng the habitat of u too.
y
e
th
s,
a
ere,
those are panther. Protecti
that live th
fe
li
a
d
d
il
ri
w
lo
r
the F
e othe
rotects th
species p
arrell Land,
FW
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to, FWC
ave Onora
photo by D
er Posse
pe” Panth
s of Ho
U “Wing
photo by D
refully for
to watch ca
rs
ve
ri
d
s
n
am at night,
A sign war
e big cats ro
th
t
u
b
s,
er
see them.
panth
can’t easily
when drivers
A highway
mortality
occurred nex
t to a warnin
g
sign that req
uires reduce
d
speed at nig
ht to avoid
collisions w
ith panthers
and other w
ildlife.
loss of genetic variability and health
the form of characteristics such as
as abnormal and poor quality sperm.
of the Florida panther population.
cowlicks and kinks at the end of the
Cryptorchidism is also a problem –
Inbreeding is the mating of closely
tail. Scientists discovered even more
sometimes one or both testicles do
related individuals in an isolated
serious physical problems such as
not descend and move outside of the
group of organisms. It tends to
atrial septal defects (a hole in the
body when a male panther matures.
increase the appearance of recessive,
heart). They also found reproductive
The lower temperatures outside the
often undesirable traits. In the
problems that endangered the
body are critical to the production of
Florida panther population, this took
survival of the entire species, such
viable sperm.
TRAILS & TAILS
17
Saving the Florida panther
F
photo by David Shindle
lorida’s leaders decided
decades ago that protecting
native Florida lands is critical
to preserving a high quality of life for
all Floridians. Since 1964 the state
has bought millions of acres through
a variety of programs such as the
Environmentally Endangered Lands
program, Conservation and Recreation
Lands program, Save Our Coast and
Save Our Rivers programs, Preservation
18
TRAILS & TAILS
2000 and Florida Forever. Parks and
preserves exist all over the state.
On the southwestern coast of
Florida, the area now most critical
to survival of the panther, large areas
of panther habitat are located within
parks, preserves and refuges managed
by the Department of the Interior.
These areas include the 720,000-acre
Big Cypress National Preserve, the
26,600-acre Florida Panther National
Wildlife Refuge, and Ten Thousand
Islands National Wildlife Refuge,
Rookery Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve, and Everglades
National Park. But, many acres of
much needed habitat do not have a
protected status.
State-protected areas include
the Picayune Strand State Forest,
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State
Park and Collier-Seminole State Park.
Public lands surrounding the Picayune Strand Restoration Project area
Picayune Strand
Restoration Project
Public lands surrounding the Picayune Strand Restoration Project area, formerly called Southern Golden Estates.
2010 • TRAILS & TAILS
23
Panther scientists are working
hard to save the Florida panther
T
he U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the National Park
Service at Big Cypress
National Preserve, and the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission are partners in the effort
to learn about Florida panthers and
support the recovery of the species.
Chris Belden was there from day one
Chris Belden didn’t plan on being
a panther scientist when he grew up. In
1975, he was a biologist at the Florida
Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
(the agency now known as the Florida
determine the critical habitat necessary
for its continued survival.
Belden began conducting
Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission) when he was chosen to
work on Florida panther recovery. At
the time, no one knew whether a viable
or reproducing population of panthers
remained in Florida.
Belden started the first panther
investigation. He knew that to save the
Florida panther from extinction, the first
step was to find a viable population and
field searches for panther sign and
establishing a central filing system
for panther reports. His team
identified three population centers
in the Big Cypress and Everglades
regions of south Florida. Their goal
was to capture two panthers and
attach a radio transmitter collar to
each so the team could monitor the
extent of the panthers’ range, habitat
preferences, and their daily and
seasonal activities.
Modern technology and basic
tracking skills both come into play
when tracking and capturing Florida
panthers. Radio telemetry is the
quickest way to determine movement
as well as many specific habitat needs.
Research done on mountain lions in
the western states demonstrated that
dogs were the most practical and
efficient means of capture. Using dogs
requires skill, experience and welltrained, highly specialized dogs that
will track cats and not other wildlife.
The Commission biologists relied
on the expertise of Roy McBride, a
professional hunter from west Texas,
who had 25 years of experience and
Chris Belden, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist
20
TRAILS & TAILS
six very well trained hounds. McBride
and his sons still serve as expert
trackers and houndsmen to this day.
Out on a limb
Belden had studied panther sign
for four years but never actually saw
a panther in the wild during that time.
Finally, in 1981, Belden not only saw,
but also touched his first live panther.
McBride put radio collars on two
of his dogs and soon they were hunting
the Florida panther to help save it from
extinction. It was not long before word
came to the trailing group of biologists
that the hounds had treed a panther.
On the way to the scene, Belden’s truck
bottomed out in a hole so deep that they
had to abandon it, and the biologists had
to carry their equipment through kneedeep water and thick underbrush. An
hour and a half later, McBride and the
dogs were finally in sight.
“I searched the treetops for my
first look,” Belden recalled. “There,
about 15 feet up in a water oak was
the first live Florida panther I had ever
seen. He looked huge!”
McBride used an air rifle to shoot
a drug-loaded dart into the panther’s
rump. Within minutes, the drugs took
effect. Everyone looked to Belden
to take the first step forward. “It’s
your research project, Belden,” they
exclaimed with some humor.
Belden was 10 feet up in the tree
when McBride yelled, “He’s coming
down! You better get out of there!”
No one knows who hit the ground
first, but McBride caught the panther
by the tail and the cat was given
another small dose of the drug. The
group worked fast. They put the radio
collar on, not too tight to impede
feeding and not so loose that it would
TRAILS & TAILS
21
slip off. They weighed and measured
the big cat, tattooed him in both
ears, took blood and fecal samples,
and collected ticks for disease and
parasite information.
The panther was a 120-pound
adult male, whose age was estimated at
about 10 years based on tooth wear. He
had all the characteristics that scientists
believed at the time to separate the
Florida panther from other subspecies – a
tawny deer-colored coat with a cowlick
down the middle of the back, white
flecks of hair down the back of the neck
and a crook in the end of the tail. It took
less than a half-hour to attach the collar
and collect the information. Belden and
biologist Deb Jansen stayed to record
the behavior of the panther as he came
out of the drug and to make sure nothing
happened while he was incapacitated.
When the panther was moving about
steadily and resting comfortably in an
upright position, they left.
Capturing and collaring a sampling
of Florida panthers enables scientists to
monitor panther movement, monitor the
genetic vitality of the population, guard
against new diseases, and document
reproductive success. Everything
biologists do in the field ultimately
benefits the panther.
Belden didn’t realize it at the time,
but his work on Florida panther recovery
was only beginning. He became the
team leader of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service’s first Florida Panther Recovery
Team from 1976 to 1981. He now
serves as the Florida Panther Recovery
Coordinator for U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and works on the Florida
Panther Recovery Plan. For more than
30 years, Belden has been involved
in one way or another in all phases of
panther research. His primary focus has
been on panther status and distribution,
and the feasibility of reintroducing
additional panther populations.
Panther Recovery Strategy
from the Florida Panther Recovery Plan
1. Maintain, restore, and expand the panther population and its habitat
in south Florida.
2. Expand this population into south-central Florida if sufficient habitat exists.
3. Reintroduce at least two additional viable populations within the historic range.
4. Facilitate panther recovery through public awareness and education.
22
TRAILS & TAILS
Florida Panther Genetic
Restoration Plan
Recommends the release of
eight female Texas pumas into
areas occupied by Florida panthers
to mimic the former natural
exchange of individuals and genes
among these populations.
More help for the Florida
panther – a historic gene
exchange
More than a century ago, natural
gene exchange occurred between the
Florida panther and other contiguous
subspecies of Puma concolor. This
exchange occurred as individuals
dispersed among populations and
bred. This natural mechanism for
gene exchange maintained genetic
health within panther populations and
minimized the occurrence of inbreeding.
As the panther population began
to decline, the Florida panther became
geographically isolated from other
subspecies such as the Texas puma
(Puma concolor stanleyana) and gene
exchange between subspecies could no
longer occur. Inbreeding accelerated,
resulting in a lack of genetic diversity,
declining health, and lower numbers of
individuals. Without action to address
the loss of natural gene exchange,
scientists feared that this “genetic
bottleneck” would lead to the eventual
extinction of the population.
Scientists from many disciplines
met and concluded that restoration
of gene flow was critical to restoring
genetic health to the Florida
panther and ultimately recovering
the species. The plan for genetic
restoration included the temporary
release of eight female Texas pumas
into Florida. Five of the Texas pumas
produced litters and at least 20
kittens were born in south Florida.
All Texas pumas were removed from
Florida after the end of the project.
Panther biologists believe the
program achieved success. In 1995
when the program began, between
20 and 30 Florida panthers were in
the wild. By 2007, the Florida panther
population had responded by tripling
to roughly 100 animals. The restoration
program brought back genetic variability
and vitality for a healthier, more resilient
panther population.
Mark Lotz has a tough job and he loves it
Mark Lotz, another wildlife
biologist with the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, has
a job that many people dream about.
While he gets to work closely with
Florida panthers, most people are very,
very lucky to ever see one in the wild.
Lotz insists that it’s not as
glamorous as it all seems. His job is
physically and mentally demanding.
Mark Lotz, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist
During the panther capture season,
November through February, the
capture team he is part of tries daily
to radio-collar panthers. That means
waking at 4 a.m. most every day,
except for weekends and holidays.
Many winter mornings are chilly,
and there’s often frost on the ground
as the biologists head out before
sunrise on a swamp buggy or allterrain vehicle. Later in the year,
there is blazing heat and stifling
humidity. There are mosquitoes and
bees, sometimes black swarming
clouds of them. The biologists may
look for tracks on the same trails
day after day, and most days pass
without catching one of the elusive
panthers. The packs on their backs
weigh 50 pounds, and team members
sometimes wade through cypress
strands in thigh-deep water or have
to force their way through thorny
vine-entangled palmettos.
Successful days are challenging.
“Captures are stressful,” Lotz explains.
“There’s some risk to the panther
which we do not take lightly. We have
many safety protocols in place to
mitigate the dangers.”
TRAILS & TAILS
23
Capturing and Collaring Panthers:
2
1 Florida panther capture team members may spend days
or weeks tracking the cats in areas that are remote and
difficult to access. They sometimes carry heavy gear long
distances on foot.
1
2 Specially-trained hounds are an important part of
the capture team. Here, Frankie has tracked and treed
a panther. Frankie bravely barks and tries to keep the
cat at bay until the rest of the team arrives. Hounds
must be both careful and courageous because they
not only deal with panthers, but they also encounter
alligators and snakes.
3
3 An expert with more than 50 years of
experience capturing panthers with dart guns,
Roy McBride takes aim at the panther. McBride
is able to accurately estimate the weight of
an animal. The team veterinarian uses this
information to calculate the correct dosage to
use in the tranquilizer dart.
24
TRAILS & TAILS
the
Process in Photos
4
4 A shot is well-placed on the rump
of the cat. The anesthetic takes
effect within minutes and the team
quickly moves into place.
5
5 The panther is far up a pine tree. Team members
are prepared for just about anything, including
climbing trees up to 45 feet to secure and bring
the panther safely to the ground.
6
6 The team quickly assembles a “crash bag” to
provide a cushion for the cat. The crash bag
is made up of air-filled trash bags held within
a larger partitioned bag. Depending on the
situation, the team may also use a safety net as
an extra precaution.
TRAILS & TAILS
25
7
7 A team member uses tree-climbing
spikes and a safety harness to climb the
tree and retrieve the sedated cat. Using a
security rope, the cat is slowly lowered to
the ground.
8
8 Team members quickly ensure the panther
is doing fine before they begin testing.
9
9 Biologists use a caliper to accurately measure the
front pad of the panther. The information is part of
the basic biometric data that is collected, including
weight, length, and height at the shoulder.
10 As one team member tattoos a
number on the inside of the panther’s ear
(the tattoo is a backup for a transponder
tag), other team members work
simultaneously. One biologist monitors
the heart rate, while another shaves fur
that will be tested for environmental
contaminants such as mercury. An
“IV,” or intravenous drip, helps keep
the cat hydrated and cool. Captures
are physically strenuous, and scientists
work together as a team, rotating jobs
and sharing the most difficult tasks.
10
11
11 Wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Mark
Cunningham, uses a stethoscope to listen to
the heart and lungs of the still-sedated panther.
12 Dr. Cunningham “sets up office”
at the capture site.
Whenever
people have surgery and anesthesia
is used, doctors caution that
there are always risks.
During
captures, the risks to the animal are
considerable, so each team includes
a veterinarian and over 100 pounds
of emergency equipment, including
water, medication and oxygen.
Dr. Cunningham says they try to
take every precaution possible. In
addition to the standard stethoscope
and thermometer, Dr. Cunningham
carries an IV, vaccines for rabies and
viruses such as feline leukemia, and
vials for blood samples.
12
14
13 Dr. Cunningham records data
including the gender (male or female),
approximate age, whether a female is
pregnant or nursing, whether testicles
have descended in males (this helps
to determine age or may indicate
physical problems) and scars or other
identifying marks.
13
14 Biologists look at the wear patterns
on the teeth to estimate the age of a cat.
The panther is a meat-eating carnivore,
and its teeth are designed for catching
prey and eating meat. Panthers have
four large, sharply pointed canine teeth
for biting prey. Teeth called carnassials
(pronounced “kahr-nas-ee-uhls”) are
used when the panther tilts its head
and chews on one side of its mouth.
Think about how a dog looks when it is
gnawing on a bone.
Kittens and den work
A biologist-in-a-box is a device
that allows scientists to monitor the
presence or absence of the mother
at a den, allowing biologists to
know when it’s safe to approach
the site and examine the kittens.
beep signal from the radio-collar. If
she is away, they’ll only hear static.
The biologist-in-a-box is set
up in the field at the base of a
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
Biologist-in-a-box
Encased in a waterproof case,
the biologist-in-a-box consists of
a battery (right) that powers the
cell phone (middle) and a radio
telemetry receiver (left) that is set
to the panther’s collar frequency
and will beep if the collared panther
is close by. The phone is connected
to the receiver and is set to answer
automatically. When scientists make a
call, they hear whatever the receiver is
detecting. If the panther is at the den,
scientists will hear the beep-beep-
tree. Biologists usually attach the
H-shaped telemetry antenna and
phone antenna to a tree, and aim
them in the direction of the den
and nearest cell phone tower to
maximize signal strength.
The first time that the scientists
monitoring the biologist-in-a-box
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
S
cientists also work with
kittens in the den to give
them the healthiest start
possible and to learn more about
them. Because researchers normally
fly over panther territory about
three days a week to monitor the
movement of radio-collared cats,
they can usually tell if a panther
has not moved for several days. If
they notice that a female panther is
staying in one place, it may indicate
that the mother has denned and
given birth to her kittens.
Typically, the mother remains at
the den with the kittens for five to
seven days after giving birth. That
kind of consistent location reading is
what prompts the scientists to try to
pinpoint the location of the den.
The antenna on the tracking
device is directional, meaning that
the signal from the collar is strongest
when the antenna is pointing directly
towards it. The strongest signal
indicates the direction of the panther.
When the collared mother panther
and den are located, scientists set up
an innovative and time-and-money
saving device called the “biologist-in-a
box,” which was invented by Darrell
Land of FWC. Before its development,
scientists spent hours driving to remote
den locations just to check the status
of a panther.
Inside a biologist-in-a-box
26
TRAILS & TAILS
photo by Mark Lotz, FWC
photo by Joe Bozzo
hear static over the phone, indicating
the mother has left the den to hunt,
they quickly move into action.
The mother typically has not eaten
in several days and usually leaves the
den sometime between sunset and
sunrise. She stays out until she makes
a kill, eats her fill and covers the cache
with leaves. This normally takes
several hours, giving the panther team
plenty of time to process the kittens.
After that first kill, the mother’s
trips away from the den are
relatively short because she will
head straight to the kill, grab a quick
bite, and return fairly rapidly. It’s not
until she has to make another fresh
kill, which requires more time, that
the scientists will have another good
opportunity to handle the kittens.
Generally, this occurs when the
kittens are about two weeks old.
It takes about 20 minutes on
average to process a kitten, which
includes determining sex, weighing,
de-worming, inserting a transponder,
taking a biopsy and hair samples, and
collecting a fecal sample.
A transponder is a small microchip
about the size of a grain of rice encased
in glass. Biologists insert it just below
the skin between the shoulder blades.
It is the same device many people use
to identify their pets and provides
a permanent means to identify an
individual. The chip contains a
unique alpha-numeric code (letters
and numbers). It can be read with a
portable scanner, and it won’t wear out
because it has no moving parts.
(Top) A team member gives de-wormer to a tiny kitten. Panthers are
susceptible to the same types of diseases as domestic cats, and when the
team captures both kittens and adults, they receive treatments such as deworming and a feline leukemia vaccine, just like a domestic cat.
(Bottom) Biologists used radio-telemetry equipment, including this H-shaped
antenna, to locate the high, dry den site of FP149. What is it like when they first
reach the kittens? “They act all tough at first and growl,” Mark Lotz says, “but it
sounds more like a purr. They sometimes spit too, but soon wear themselves out.”
TRAILS & TAILS
27
Kittens
Kittens, kittens, kittens
(one is cuter than the other!)
FP148’s kittens are carefully hidden in thick protective vegetation while
their mother is out hunting.
32
28
itten
FP140’s kitten
FP148’s kitten
TRAILS & TAILS • 2010
FP149’s kitten
photos by Mark Lotz, FWC
(Left) Dave Onorato, a research scientist with
the FWC, uses a mesh bag and scale to weigh
FP107’s squirming kitten, and records the
information in a waterproof notebook.
(Right) Kathleen Smith, FWC biologist, wears
a bug jacket with rope-like netting underneath
a layer of mesh. This simple design creates a
space that prevents an insect’s stinger from
coming in contact with the skin. An attached
hood protects the face and neck.
There are many obstacles for kittens
posture – burying or hiding its face by
the eyes, nose and mouth where the fur
on the way to adulthood, and even mos-
placing it down against the ground be-
is thinnest.
quitoes can be a problem. The team visit-
tween its front legs. It turns out that the
ed one den where the mosquitoes were
kittens’ noses were calloused because
in Yulee, Florida (north of Jacksonville)
so horrendous that it was difficult for
they were trying to protect themselves
also cares for orphaned, sick, and injured
them to work. They observed that the
from the mosquitoes. Kitten fur does a
panthers. Caretakers give the panthers
kittens had unusual scabs and calluses
pretty good job of protecting them from
live prey in a fifteen-acre pen to hone
on their noses. As soon as they finished
mosquitoes because it is thick and dense
their predatory skills. Once proficient at
with a kitten and set it down, it would
enough so the mosquitoes can’t reach
capturing deer, their preferred prey, they
immediately go into a “defensive”
their skin. They are vulnerable around
are ready for release.
photos by David Shindle
The White Oak Conservation Center
These two kittens were orphaned in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and biologists had to place them in
captivity when they were only two weeks old. Since they were so young, they had to be bottle-fed and handled extensively
by humans. The Jacksonville Zoo is the permanent home of these feline ambassadors.
TRAILS & TAILS
29
People and panthers
Close encounters
photo by Mike Barnes
E
ncounters with Florida
panthers in the wild are
extremely rare. Even if you
are lucky enough to see a panther, it is
likely that the animal will run or walk
away. But, if you live, work or recreate
in panther habitat, there are things you
should know to enhance your safety
and that of friends and family.
Panthers usually rest during the day
hidden in thickets of palmetto. At dusk,
near sunset, they begin to travel and
hunt. To be safe, be especially alert from
dusk to dawn when panthers are most
active, and always hike with a friend.
If you encounter a panther:
• Don’t run; this might stimulate the
panther’s instinct to chase.
• Give the animal space to escape.
• Remain standing and try to make
yourself look larger by raising your
arms or opening your jacket if you are
wearing one.
• Make eye contact, speak loudly,
make noise, and throw stones or
branches without turning away to
show you’re in control; act like you are
the top dog or “alpha dog.”
• Pick up small children and pets.
• In the extremely unlikely event you
are attacked, fight back!
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TRAILS & TAILS
Lucky Everglades National Park visitor and retired science teacher Mike
Barnes took this photo of radio-collared FP142 when their paths crossed
on the boardwalk at Mahogany Hammock.
Living with wildlife
Florida panthers are not known to
attack humans. Just the same, these
Florida panther safety tips are good
to keep in mind.
• Supervise children – educate
them about panthers and other
wildlife they might encounter.
• Be alert from dusk to dawn – Florida
panthers are most active at dusk and
dawn, and are also active at night.
• Never approach a panther – most
panthers want to avoid humans.
Give a panther the time and space
to steer clear of you.
• Heed panther crossing signs and
reduce speed when driving in panther
country at night, especially near
sunrise and sunset.
• Landscape for safety – remove
vegetation that provides cover for
panthers or that attracts wildlife such
as deer.
• Always hike, backpack and camp
with a companion when in wild areas.
• Keep panther prey away – deer,
raccoons and wild hogs are prey.
• Keep pets safe and secure –
roaming pets are easy prey for
predators, including panthers.
• Keep livestock secure – where
practical, chickens, goats, hogs
or other livestock should be
placed in enclosed sheds or
barns at night.
photo by Rabert Halman, Collier County IFAS
for the Florida panther, so
keep garbage, pet foods and
vegetable gardens secure.
Keeping livestock safe
The construction of
enclosures such as this one is
an effort to protect domestic
animals from panthers,
bobcats, coyotes, dogs and
other predatory wildlife, thus
avoiding domestic and Florida
endangered wildlife conflicts.
These enclosures are
designed to help humans
and panthers in particular
to become better neighbors. They are simple, cost effective and permanent
solutions to predation problems. Ultimately, these proactive steps taken on
behalf of pets and livestock will protect and preserve Florida’s wildlife.
What can I do to help save the
F lorida panther?
Help educate other people about the Florida panther.
If you live in panther country, learn how you, your family, and your pets and livestock can live safely with panthers and
help educate your neighbors.
Visit and support the public lands that provide habitat for Florida panthers and the other species that depend on that habitat.
Become active in local organizations that promote the protection of wildlife and their habitat.
Volunteer on a national wildlife refuge, national park, state park or forest, or local nature preserve.
Show your support with a Florida panther specialty license plate. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission’s panther research is funded 100 percent through the purchase of Florida panther license plates. Plates are
only $25 more than a regular tag and can be purchased at your local tax collector’s office.
TRAILS & TAILS
31
panther photo by David Shindle
This panther’s picture was taken because its
movement and body heat triggered the shutter
of a specially-equipped camera.
Turning Back Time
for
“T
Picayune Strand
he crown jewel of habitat restoration
projects, the 55,000-acre Picayune Strand
contains some of the most important Florida
panther habitat on the planet,” says Paul Souza of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. “Restoring Picayune Strand lets
us turn back time. We can restore this land to the way
it was before humans thought it should be converted
into a residential development.”
Scientists say that plugging canals and removing roads
in the now-abandoned Southern Golden Gate Estates
residential development will help re-establish historic water
flows and revive the land. Over time, plant communities
will revert to those that were naturally occurring when the
area was wetter. These changes in the “natural infrastructure”
will improve the value of the on-site wildlife habitat for many
species, including the Florida panther and its prey.
How will scientists know if habitat has been improved
for the panther once the restoration project is complete? To
evaluate the effect of the project on the Florida panther and
its habitat, scientists will compare pre-restoration data to
post-restoration data.
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TRAILS & TAILS
and the
Florida panther
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commissioned a preconstruction panther-prey baseline monitoring survey that
was conducted in the Picayune Strand Restoration area and
natural reference areas between July 2005 and March 2007.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is responsible for
recovery of the endangered Florida panther population in
Florida, played a pivotal role in making this happen.
The study focused on the panther and its primary prey
species, white-tailed deer and feral hog. Infrared-triggered
remote cameras were placed
at regular intervals across
the site and were operated
24 hours a day. Biologists
will use the baseline data
to evaluate the effects of
restoration on panther habitat.
To hear Souza talk
about the importance
of Picayune Strand
restoration, visit
Paul Souza, U.S. Fish and
www.evergladesplan.org.
Wildlife Service representative
Trails & Tails: the Endangered Florida Panther of Picayune Strand and Southwest Florida is dedicated to Sam Hamilton, the
15th director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. Hamilton passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 20, 2010 at the age of
54. An avid environmentalist since childhood, Mr. Hamilton was a 30-year veteran of the Service. He was nominated by
President Obama and became director of the Service in September 2009.
A true leader and visionary, Mr. Hamilton was an important supporter of Everglades restoration at the federal level. He
believed in science-based approaches to conservation. He also believed that collaborative relationships result in stronger
solutions than any one entity can accomplish alone. He was widely respected and is sorely missed.
With the passing of Mr. Hamilton, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has lost a friend, and the nation has lost a dedicated,
selfless servant.
photo by FWC
Carrying a sedated panther through the sharp serrated edges of saw palmetto is a heavy burden. For more than
30 years, panther capture team members such as Chris Belden, Deborah Jansen, Mark Lotz, David Shindle (shown
here with Florida panther number 165) and many others have shared an awesome responsibility. The future existence
of the Florida panther on Earth seems, quite literally, in their hands. But the responsibility for the survival of the
species is not theirs alone, and everyone can help in a variety of ways.