Coming to Florida: More panthers
| Fort Myers, Fla.
There may now be as many as 180 endangered Florida聽panthers聽roaming in the wild, and state wildlife officials are exploring programs designed to encourage private landowners to welcome the big cats on their property.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists updated their population estimate for the聽panthers聽during the agency's meeting this week in Fort Myers.
The聽panther聽hovered on the brink of extinction in 1994 when just 20 to 30 panthers聽remained. After years of conservation efforts, including the introduction of a handful of pumas from Texas to southwest Florida, the number of聽panthers rose was estimated at 100 to 160 adult cats.
The commission documented the births of 21聽panther聽kittens last year.
Panthers聽once ranged throughout the Southeast, but most are currently found south of the Caloosahatchee River in Florida. Now that 180 adult聽panthers聽may be sharing that area, officials say more large tracts of land will be needed to sustain a healthy聽panther聽population.
"Due to the expansive habitat needs of the Florida聽panther, the continued growth of their population presents a unique challenge to the FWC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said FWC Commissioner Liesa Priddy. "As聽panther聽range expands, impacts on private landowners will continue to increase."
State officials say they are working to mitigate conflicts between聽panthers聽and people as the number of the cats increases. In the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the commission documented 25 cases of domestic livestock or pets being preyed on by a聽panther, including 15 calves on commercial cattle ranches.
"We know聽panthers聽can prey upon pets and livestock, and we strive to find solutions that work for people who experience these very real losses," said Thomas Eason, director of the commission's Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.
Collisions with vehicles are the primary cause of聽panther聽deaths. Fifteen of the 20聽panther聽deaths reported last year occurred while聽panthers聽were crossing highways.
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Information from: Naples (Fla.) Daily News,聽
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