Panthers have made a big comeback, but they're still in peril
newspress.com
Since Don Juan's heyday in Big Cypress National Preserve, the Florida panther population has rebounded considerably. Nevertheless, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission associate research scientist Dave Onorato warns that the species isn't out of the woods yet.
Since Don Juan's heyday in Big Cypress National Preserve, the Florida panther population has rebounded considerably. Nevertheless, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission associate research scientist Dave Onorato warns that the species isn't out of the woods yet.
"We've had a nice increase in population and that's a success story," he said. "However, for the species to continue to make progress they're going to have to start moving into central Florida."The biggest limiting factor is space. These cats need room to roam, with the average male panther requiring 200 square miles and the average female needing 80 square miles for their "home ranges."
Deborah Jansen said that South Florida can support around 120 panthers and has just about reached its saturation point."The panther population that is confined to a crowded South Florida has shown the results of this crowding: more males killing males, males killing females, more highway deaths, and fewer kittens surviving," Jansen said.
Florida Puma at rest
Without more natural habitat, the population will stay about where it is. Experts said 120 is not anywhere near the number needed to sustain a healthy, genetically diverse breeding population.More land that is contiguous with existing habitat will need to be made available."We have documented males north of the Caloosahatchee River but no females north of the river since 1970," Onorato said. "The males are a lot less picky than the females, they'll move into marginal habitat, but the females won't. As a result, Florida panthers continue to be an isolated population and that's going to continue to be an issue."
In Onorato's mind, a successful population would include three independent, yet connected, populations of 240 panthers each. "That's how you'd go about delisting the population, but we're still a long way from that," he said.There has, however, been progress.
Last May, a private-public partnership secured a piece of land that could be the key to getting panthers to cross the Caloosahatchee. The 1,278-acre parcel in Glades County was set to go into foreclosure when several government and private groups — including The Nature Conservancy and Wal-Mart — stepped in to save it.
Florida Puma in mangrove habitat
With suitable habitat now available to panthers on both sides of the river, both Jansen and Oronato hope to see panthers populating more of south and central Florida soon.
Deborah Jansen said that South Florida can support around 120 panthers and has just about reached its saturation point."The panther population that is confined to a crowded South Florida has shown the results of this crowding: more males killing males, males killing females, more highway deaths, and fewer kittens surviving," Jansen said.
Florida Puma at rest
Without more natural habitat, the population will stay about where it is. Experts said 120 is not anywhere near the number needed to sustain a healthy, genetically diverse breeding population.More land that is contiguous with existing habitat will need to be made available."We have documented males north of the Caloosahatchee River but no females north of the river since 1970," Onorato said. "The males are a lot less picky than the females, they'll move into marginal habitat, but the females won't. As a result, Florida panthers continue to be an isolated population and that's going to continue to be an issue."
In Onorato's mind, a successful population would include three independent, yet connected, populations of 240 panthers each. "That's how you'd go about delisting the population, but we're still a long way from that," he said.There has, however, been progress.
Last May, a private-public partnership secured a piece of land that could be the key to getting panthers to cross the Caloosahatchee. The 1,278-acre parcel in Glades County was set to go into foreclosure when several government and private groups — including The Nature Conservancy and Wal-Mart — stepped in to save it.
Florida Puma in mangrove habitat
With suitable habitat now available to panthers on both sides of the river, both Jansen and Oronato hope to see panthers populating more of south and central Florida soon.
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