The Endangered Mammals of Florida

The Florida Panther
Felis concolor coryi

In the Seminole language,
Panther is: coo - wah - chobee

The Florida Panther, which is the State Mammal of Florida,

may be the most endangered animal in the world.

Their numbers are currently estimated to be only between

90 and 120 in the wild and with such a limited breeding pool,

their fate may become as that of the African Cheetah.

Your first stop in Panther Education should begin with a

look at the primary reason that they have become

 nearly extinct, a complete loss of habitat!

The Panther Range

*Panther Update April 5, 2009*

A disturbing change in the preservation of the critically

endangered Florida Panther makes them only the

latest victim of budget cuts in the State:

Florida Cuts Panther Program

One can only wonder what happened to the money

raised by the Florida Panther License Plate Program.

Perhaps it is in the same place as the Florida Lottery

money that was meant to go to education?

The question that remains with so many schools being

closed, programs being cut and teachers being laid off is,

where did all of the money from these two programs go?

These are quite beautiful cats and their coloring,

which is a golden tawny brown,

is similar to the California Mountain lion.

They range in weight from 100-148 pounds for the male

and 60-100 pounds for the female,

with respective lengths of 7 feet and 6 feet.

Their ages have been averaged at between six

and 12 years in recent field studies.

These big cats also have a big range of about 301 square km

for the male and 104 square km for the female.

While these ranges may overlap as much as 20 miles,

the males and females do not live together.

The panthers are a non migratory species.

Their habitats are often a swamp-forest mixed area with beds

being primarily made up of the abundant saw palmetto.

They have been known to stay near wildfires for several days,

waiting for what?, the creatures who run from the flames?

Their favorite food is the white tailed deer, followed by wild hogs,

raccoons and other small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.

The Panther has been a major part of the culture

of the Indigenous people of Florida,

being used in ceremonies and medicinal rituals.

The Panther Clan, who are descendents of Chief Osceola,

were among the first to honor this remarkable animal,

whose survival now lies in the hands of those who

have driven it to the brink of extinction.

Places to learn more:

Business Network

Improving Prospects for Florida Panther

Center for Education Technologies

Panther

Defenders of Wildlife

Florida Panther

The Florida Panther Net

The Florida Panther Society

Florida Power and Light

Florida Panther

GORP: Everglades National Park

Florida Panther

Humane Society

Victory for National Parks and the Florida Panther

National Geographic News

Texas Cats Help Triple Florida Population

National Park Conservation Association

Florida Panther

Press Release about Threats to Big Cypress

National Wildlife Federation

Cat on a Collision Course

Florida Panther

Nature: Trail of the Cougar

Florida Panthers

Nature Works/New Hampshire Public Television

Florida Panther

US FISH and Wildlife Service

USFWS

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge

USGS: NPWRC

Northern Prairie Wildlife Refuge

Florida Panther

Walking with the Alligators