Florida Panther

Florida Panther

This species scientific name is Puma Concolor Coryi, it also has a second scientific name known as the Puma Concolor Couguar. Its common name is the Florida Panther.

These wild cats are about the size of a cougar, measuring about 6-8 feet in length and weighing roughly 160 pounds. The shape of the skull is characterized by a more exaggerated rise of the nasal arch. They have smaller paws and longer legs compared to its cousins. It has shorter hair, a crooked tail, and a whorl of hair in the middle of its back. The Florida Panther's coat varies from a rusty buff to fawn gray, while the muzzle, chest, and underbelly are white. The shape of the print is asymmetrical, a 3 lobbed pad surrounded by 4 toes, normally no claw marks show but if they appear they will be small sharp points. When walking, the hind paw is often placed in the print of the forepaw, basically overlapping the forepaw.

Panthers are most active at dusk and dawn, they can travel 15-20 miles a day, often moving in a zig-zag pattern, though they tend to rest during the daytime, travel & hunt during the cooler hours of the night. Panthers have the ability to swim, sometimes even wide bodies of water. Panther kittens live with its mother for 18 months, they then travel alone to find their own land. Their preferred method of hunting is to creep up as close to their prey as possible and launch a short spring attack.

Florida Panthers can live for up to 15 years. Their age of maturity is around 2-3 years, although some females reach maturity at 18 months. Panthers usually produce 1 litter every 2 years with an average litter size of 1-3 kittens. Gestation is about 92-96 days. They usually give birth during april.

Many panthers have been killed in cat fights. Others have been hit by vehicles. Illegal hunting for their furs has been a major reason. Inbreeding also causes some harmful effects.

According to eparks.org, there are approximately 80 Florida panthers left in the wild.

Many Florida panthers are situated in Everglades National Park; many are unseen due to their swiftness.

The Florida Panther Protection Program is being hosted by a couple of farmers that have over 2.5 million acres of land to let Florida panthers roam in them.