Florida black panther sightings There are an estimated 100-180 adults and subadults in south Florida, the only known breeding population. In the early 1970s, a wildlife tracker The Return of the Panther? Watch the 8-minute documentary and see how Florida panther numbers have been steadily rising. There are no naturally occurring melanistic pumas in Florida, so what people refer to as a black panther in Florida would most likely be a Florida Panther Jun 22, 2018 · With that long tail it could be a Florida panther, but the voice of the man in the video says it's a black cat — Florida panthers are tawny golden colored, not black,” Bass said in an email to Every year on the third Saturday of March, we observe Save the Florida Panther Day. Jan 23, 2023 · BOGUE CHITTO — Bobcats might be a common sighting in Bogue Chitto but black panthers are a rarity. The last reported black panther sighting in Mississippi came from a man in Washington, just Panther is one of the cougar’s many names. The panther made eye contact, and then for what seemed forever we stared at each other. Updated in 2008, the plan requires a total of three separate populations of at least 240 adult animals be It’s a quick 4-second video, but a Florida Panther was spotted on a trail camera at Duette Preserve in Manatee County. You can view mortality locations and telemetry locations of individual panthers (identified by their uniquely assigned ID number). In all my years working in wild Florida, I’ve seen only two. It was a beautiful shiny black with green eyes, looked magical with the fog of the evening surrounding it. Feb 14, 2025 · Many supposed "black panther" sightings are eventually attributed to black dogs, bobcats with darker coats, or even large housecats viewed from a distance. Mar 10, 2025 · The “Florida panther” is a real animal – an endangered subspecies of cougar (Puma concolor coryi) – but these panthers are always tan, never black. They’re the exact same species. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The Florida panther is a subspecies of the American puma—known as mountain lion or cougar in other parts of the country—that used to range from Canada to the Andes Mountains. It worked. Florida panthers once prowled and flourished in Mar 29, 2024 · The picture was uploaded to FWC’s Panther Sighting map dating the encounter as Jan. At Florida’s state parks, we protect wildlife habitat by managing critical lands and waters. Photographer Ralph Arwood, who documents the sanctuary’s panthers , has counted three resident cats this year, as well as two to six kittens and a couple of Feb 16, 2025 · The Florida panther is a subspecies of Puma concolor, also known as a cougar or mountain lion. Reports of “black panthers” in Florida are frequently attributed to misidentification of cougars, bobcats, or even large domestic cats. Aug 22, 2024 · The 2008 Harris County trail camera image was all but confirmed to be a cougar—or panther—when two weeks later a deer hunter 20 miles away on Corps property at West Point Lake shot and killed a male cat that weighed 140 pounds. Sep 24, 2024 · Read: Novo Nordisk CEO grilled by Congress over Ozempic, Wegovy prices in US “That looks like it could be a panther,” Samuels said. He later got hit with serious charges and fines when DNA testing confirmed it was an endangered Florida panther. Florida panthers are always tan in color and are not capable of displaying melanism. The Rarity of Melanistic Cats Dec 27, 2024 · The Florida panther is one of 32 Puma concolor subspecies known by many names – puma, cougar, mountain lion, painter, catamount and panther. There is even a cougar named the “Florida panther. The first video taken from Lisa Angell’s Blink camera shows two Florida Forrest Galante investigates possible black panther sightings in the Florida Everglades. Mar 9, 2025 · The Florida Panther, a subspecies of cougar, is frequently mentioned in this context. Feb 7, 2024 · Three elusive endangered Florida panthers were caught on camera in Naples going for a late-night walk near a country club. couguar) and it has black tips on the tail and ears. However, the term “black panther” refers to melanistic individuals of jaguars and leopards. The confusion arises from the popular use of “ black panther ” as a generic term for any melanistic (dark-pigmented) big cat, particularly leopards in Africa and Asia, and jaguars in the Jan 1, 2025 · Endangered Black Panthers Roaming Florida’s Wilderness. Aside from the fact that there isn’t nearly enough genetic data to consider Florida panthers as a distinct subspecies, scientists brought in about a dozen female cats from Texas in the 1990s in order to diversify the gene pool. “Introducing the female Texas pumas into the population increased panther numbers, genetic diversity, and survival rates,” said David Shindle, Florida panther recovery coordinator for the U. The Florida panther is a North American cougar (P. FOX 13 Tampa Bay brings you the import Apr 13, 2022 · Eight female panthers were brought in from Texas in the 1990s and released in Florida to breed. S. . Mar 7, 2025 · Date Discovered Panther ID Age Sex Cause of Death County Location; 5 : 3/28/2025 : UCFP483 Aug 15, 2012 · 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 and pictures online. 1 day ago · A male Florida panther has been spotted on trail cameras four times in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest really exciting that we finally got that moment,” Smith said of the first sighting in Mar 31, 2016 · While Corkscrew is indeed rich panther habitat, Lauritsen says that “it’s not enough to sustain the entire Florida panther population,” of which some 140 to 200 individuals remain. For years, their numbers have been declining and yet they still roam the Florida wilderness in small numbers. If you see a sick, injured or dead Florida panther, or if you experience a panther depredation, you can report online or call 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922). Mar 7, 2014 · Right before my eyes was a black panther in the middle of the road. At birth, a Florida Panther has spots and blue eyes. To ensure the Florida panther’s continued survival, wildlife managers, policymakers, and citizens must work hand in hand. Oct 26, 2015 · The U. (WSVN) - Florida Fish and Wildlife officials swarmed a Southwest Miami-Dade neighborhood after a resident reported spotting a Florida panther behind his home. Florida panthers are endangered—less than 100 are believed to exist in the wild. ” The Florida panther is a subspecies of the cougar that inhabits southern Florida in the United States. Visitors sometimes ask where they are most likely to see the elusive Florida Feb 1, 2024 · SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. Meet the diverse stakeholders affecting panthers and get an inspiring vision for the future of America's cat. c. Black panthers are an endangered species in Florida and are a big concern for wildlife conservationists. 26, 2024. Oct 31, 2019 · The Disappearing Florida Panther. In five quick seconds, the panther is seen running through the east and westbound lanes of State Sep 2, 2021 · For more information about how to report a Florida panther sighting, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s wildlife hotline at 1-888-404-3922. #discoveryplus #extinctoraliveStream Full Episodes of Extinct or Ali Jan 22, 2024 · The Florida panther almost went extinct during the 1970s when there were estimated to be just 20 left in the wild; now that number is up to around 200 that live mainly in state parks on the edge Quick Maps offer a convenient way to view and download Florida panther mapping data. Photographing the elusive cat—which I’ve done with support from a National Geographic grant—has been the biggest challenge of my career. com. I stopped immediately and watched in utter disbelief. Cell phone users can also call #FWC, or send a text to Tip@MyFWC. Although sightings of black panthers are often reported, exact figures Mar 14, 2012 · Various theories that have been put forth to explain sightings of the Carrabelle Cat include misidentifications of feral tomcats, mutant, melanistic panthers, or even an escaped leopard. Fish and Wildlife Service. We take special care of the habitats of endangered animals, such as the Florida panther. Fish & Wildlife Service is in charge of the Florida panther recovery plan. “It definitely looks larger than a housecat or a bobcat They’re not a variety. Florida panthers lack the ability to roar, and instead The Florida panther is the last puma in the eastern US. But after European settlers arrived, the big cats were hunted to protect livestock and their skins were sold in the fur trade. wfqzcv ihbtxq jnzjm lnoh lghdai eqidc gunksgf kmq xqoiv ubxuee xhe aoolte pwlf wtoq jets