The Florida Panther
Did you know that in 2002 the FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) said that there were less than 20 Panthers left in the wild? But thanks to many agencies protecting this Panther your children will be able get to see this creature behave in its natural habitat.
The large slim agile bodies of these fierce felines make them look like any preys worst nightmare. They have a tail that reaches out to 2 to 2 ½ feet. The fur color varies from rustic read and metallic gray to a tawny color. These coats vary according to their surroundings in order to camouflage them. Males are slightly bigger measuring in at 7 feet including the tail and are about 120 lbs. Females are smaller measuring about 6 feet and weighing about 80 lbs. They have pointy ears and really sharp teeth. The panther has something in the back of its eye called “Tapteum Lucida” that makes its eyes reflect.
The Florida Panther’s fierce behavior means that it is built to kill. This Puma eats White-Tailed deer, wild hogs small mammals such as birds, rabbits and armadillos. Male Florida Panthers live alone except for one week while mating. Females care for their young up to 1 ½ years. These cougars mature at 3 years old. These nocturnal animals have strict territorial habitats which mean that they won’t cross borders into other territories. The Florida Cougar’s territories vary from 50 to 770 square miles. The panther is a carnivorous predator that will eat domestic animals such as dogs, cats and farm animals. This pumas yelp or hiss to communicate with each other.
You’ll pretty much find a panther anywhere in Florida. The Felis Concolor Coroyi (scientific name) usually lives in a den in a 6 foot Palmetto tree or great Cypress tree of the Everglades. Their dens are cooler than the outside temperature. Florida Panthers don’t have a specific habitat. Panthers have been found in every where from savannas scrub, swamps, broadleaf and pine forests to the desert dunes of Florida. Once the Florida Panther was distributed throughout the east coast, but now it only lives in Florida.
In 2002 the FWS (The Fish and Wildlife Servers) said that there were less than twenty Panthers left in the wild. One reason for endangerment is the expansion of housing and reduction of their habitat. Another reason is mercury poisoning. The Panther eats raccoons that eat crayfish that swim in the mercury tinged water. In the1940’s a parasite was on a deer that could wipe out the deer race. So the state of Florida paid hunters to go kill all the deeer before they could spread the disease. The panther didn’t have enough food so they began to starve. Ranchers started to kill Panthers so they won’t kill their animals. Cars on Alligator Alley Highway claimed dozens of Panthers lives. Now there are only 30-50 left in the wild.
The FWS put the panther on the endangered list. This means that laws can be made to protect the Panther. In 1947 President Harry Truman donated 1.3 million acres of land, now known as Everglades National Park. In the 1980 the Florida government released hundreds of wild hogs and White-Tailed deer in to the everglades for the panthers to kill and eat. In 1989 a 26,600 acre site was donated to the Panther. 10 foot fences were put to keep the panthers from getting hit by cars on Alligator Alley. The state raised the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for killing these animals.
The Florida Panther’s sleek looks and unique behavior make it a marvel of nature. Thanks to some organizations, you might get to see this panther in action. I hope you help the state animal of Florida survive.