The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has launched a new website that makes it easy for citizens who spot Florida panthers to share the information online. The site – https://Public.MyFWC.com/hsc/
As recently as the 1970s, the Florida panther was close to disappearing, with as few as 20 animals in the wild. Now there are an estimated 100 to 160 adults and sub-adults. Sub-adults are panthers that have left their mother but are not yet breeding age.
The growing population of this endangered species and its need to roam over large areas mean panthers are spreading beyond their well-documented south Florida range. The FWC has evidence of panther sightings throughout Florida and is getting increased reports from people lucky enough to have photographed a panther or its tracks.
“While it’s encouraging to hear from a person who is excited about seeing a Florida panther, the FWC has to have specific documentation of the panther sighting to provide sound science-based panther management,” said Darrell Land, FWC panther team leader. “We’ve been receiving a lot of panther pictures from people who use trail cameras, and this website makes it easy for them to share that information with the FWC.”
FWC researchers will use the reported sightings to gain knowledge on the range of Florida panthers.
“The comeback of the Florida panther is a great example of what coordinated conservation efforts can accomplish,” Land said. “The FWC is asking people to help document how panthers are responding to these conservation efforts and where they are coexisting with Florida’s 19 million human residents.”
Three reasons you should help:
- Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) are an Endangered Species.
- Counting panthers is difficult because they are solitary, elusive and wide-ranging animals rarely observed in the wild. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) panther biologists estimate there are 100-160 adults and yearlings in Florida. This population estimate does not include panther kittens.
- Reporting your observations can help FWC biologists address panther conservation needs by identifying the areas used by these large cats.
Learn more about the Florida panther at FloridaPantherNet.org/. The site includes information about panthers for people of different interest levels, including a coloring book and activity pages for kids.
See Also:
- 23 Panthers Killed in Florida in 2010, 16 of Them by Vehicles
- Florida Panther Website
- How A Panther Broadened City Beauty Board’s Mission to Include Riches & Perils of Public Art
- Florida Panthers Are Better Off
question says
Thank you Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)…
for your great work on this ENDANGERED SPECIES that needs roam over large areas…and have its travels throughout Florida documented.
And thank you FlaglerLive…
for your help getting the word out about how important tracking/photos/details are in the management of this majestic cat.
Susan Regan says
We have seen a panther in Holly Hill . It must have been around for quite sometime after knowing the sound they make ! It was seen a few times in our yard . What a beautiful animal . So lucky to see it standing right under the spotlight ! I was in awe !!
Lois Harriman says
Was out walking my dog 6/1/2022 7:15 PM in Treviso Bay Naples FL & saw a large panther crossing a marshy area off into the scrub.
Nancy Sweeney says
I was driving north ,from State -100, onto Colbert St., Palm Coast, FL around 3:00PM, on Sat., 12/24/22; heading toward Palm Coast Pkwy. Between the second entrance of Grand Haven, and the entrance to Forest Park, I almost hit a panther. Thought I was dreaming…it just leaped across the St….graceful, gorgeous and grey.., and disappeared into the dense brush. Grand Haven is having a wild pig invasion, so…am guessing my Cat was on his way to a Xmas dinner? It was still quite light out…maybe that’s not unusual if you are a hungry panther…there was a white SUV behind me…was hoping he would stop and we could discuss out mutual “vision”…but, he just honked, and went on his way…. I was only doing 35-40 mph., dreaming of sugar-plums..which probably saved the panther, and …terribly annoyed the white SUV….
Carol Cuomo says
Was walking near Linear Park in Palm Coast with my 85 lb dog. He stuck his head in the brush and I heard rustling and then the big cat (Panther, mountain lion) leapt into the tree and stared at us.
pamala zill says
I was speaking with a friend who lives in St. Augustine. And he mentioned he had seen a panther this far north. I have relayed this article. To him. I sure hope he shares what he witnessed.
Carolina says
Spotted a young panther in my back yard this morning in Port Charlotte Florida (Murdock Section)
Anonymous says
Pamela,
I live in Saint Johns county and am from St. Augustine, recently there has been a rumor of panther sighting. Do you know if there are any black panthers in Fl.?
Marvin says
Yes , from my understanding if it’s a black panther it’s a Florida panther
Bill Lyon says
Hi! Please know that there are absolutely no “black” Panthers in Florida. Florida Panthers are a sub-species of Pumas and they are always tan, just like Pumas and the other Puma cousins (Cougar, Mountain Lion). Some are quite DARK tan but TAN nonetheless. So-called Black Panthers only live in Africa or South America and are not members of the Puma family at all – they are either Jaguars (S America) or Leopards (Africa).
Chad says
Hello! That is correct. As a species they’re not black, however, there is a genetic mutation that can occur causing some to appear black, but this is rare. In Palm Coast, FL, there were some sightings of one ~5 years ago. All sightings I heard were from the East side of Lehigh Trail up to European Village areas.
Bill Lyon says
Well, I stand corrected then. I haven’t read about such “black” panthers on the state’s official website so I missed that aspect of Florida Panther information. I do note that the panther statues that are near the Hammock Bridge on Palm Coast Parkway and the one that welcomes students at the elementary school at Parkview and Belle Terre are both black….always felt that was not a true color depiction of our Flordia panther. I do note that the state advises that there are no recorded cases of Panther attacks on humans ever recorded in Florida. The lady’s story above about the panther simply up into a tree when her dog noticed it near Linear Park in Palm Coast is interesting and jives with the “no attack” option noted for our Panthers.
linda says
I spotted a panther outside my window in my neighbors driveway. The panther crossed over to an empty parking lot adjacent to my home where i was able to photograph him with my phone. This was on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 in the Grand Haven community of Palm Coast, Florida.
Janice says
I live in the P section of Palm Coast and have seen two panthers, three days apart in my back yard. No question they were panthers.
James Bromley says
We have seen panthers outside Ocklawaha between the river and Lake Weir since I was a kid 35 years ago. This is in the Ocala National Forrest Area. My neighbors small dog was killed by one around 25 years ago. My grandma who lives on Blue Sink Lake were I grew up has regular spottings of one passing by as it seems to patrol down near the lake now. Sometimes she sees it running by back toward the woods. This population has and hopefully always will be there so I don’t believe they were ever totally confined to the Everglades until Orlando and other over development started acting as a fence that separated the South Florida population.
Kyle luman says
Was in palm coast Florida today at about 920 am looked up and saw a panther just strolling threw the back of a customers house! Was in the W section of Palm Coast Florida
Jef says
Last evening saw a mother panther and two juveniles just at dusk on the Hammock Dunes Creek Golf Course.
Bob says
My daughter came to visit from up north,we were traveling on old king’s road at 9am or so and spotted a beautiful panther just at the edge of the wood line. Wanted to take a pic but traffic was approaching behind us,we were lucky to see such a awesome animal.
Thomas R Tedrick says
I was on FR 22 by the Farles Prairie Rec. Area in the Ocala National Forest off of SR19 north of Altoona on 1/11/24 waiting for someone to show up for a hike. Out walks a panther and crosses the forest road about 20 or 30 yards from me. Awesome sight, beautiful animal.