Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Went herping last night with a friend and saw the usual corns, yellows, and water snakes. Traveling a country road at 40 MPH, we passed something I have always wanted to spot in the wild, a Florida Panther. I turned around and the panther stood it ground on the side of the road. It was an adult male and was much larger an animal then I expected a Florida Panther to be. It stood for a few seconds and sped off into the forest as I reached for my camera. This is the first I've seen alive, however the second I have actually seen. The first was a roadkill female on I-95 in Southeast Florida a couple of years ago.

That's as good as finding any snake, maybe better!!

MCH

Yea, and if my friend was not with me I am not sure anyone who did not know me would believe it. A couple years ago, my parents retired north of here to a newly developed community in Port Saint Lucie. My Mom said she was seeing a panther around her home and around the other homes in their neighborhood. Many people (including myself) told her she was not seeing what she was seeing on her 5 AM morning strolls. Well, she finally was able to confirm the sighting with a friend and my father. I hate to think about it, but that panther I saw dead on I-95 a month later was 10 miles from her home and I think it may have been the same panther. It was actually living east of the highway before its habitat was plowed over.

Dan

I'm sure the majoraty of the herpers reading your post thought this but did you stop for the head on the roadkill?

(not that I really expect you to answer if you did)

Ed

>>Yea, and if my friend was not with me I am not sure anyone who did not know me would believe it. A couple years ago, my parents retired north of here to a newly developed community in Port Saint Lucie. My Mom said she was seeing a panther around her home and around the other homes in their neighborhood. Many people (including myself) told her she was not seeing what she was seeing on her 5 AM morning strolls. Well, she finally was able to confirm the sighting with a friend and my father. I hate to think about it, but that panther I saw dead on I-95 a month later was 10 miles from her home and I think it may have been the same panther. It was actually living east of the highway before its habitat was plowed over.
>>
>>Dan
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Nope, within seconds of seeing it at 70 MPH I telephoned fish and game and they said they were aware of the body and were enroute to it. If someone was found taking its head, I supose their head and butt would have been behind bars shortly after fish and game pulled up. Much less, if I took the head and said I did on this forum, the cops would ring the doorbell in about 20 minutes.

Dan

true Florida panthers have been extirpated. I think all the panthers down there are intergrades with panthers from south Texas. The Florida panther population has gotten so bad that they purposely introduced some panthers from Texas, and now I have recently read that "true" Florida panthers are probably extinct.

Either way, to me, that is a hall of fame sighting....Congrats

Someone please correct me if I am misguided.

Matt

I don't know why I remember this but I believe that it came down to one cat and there was a huge controversy on introducing the Texas population. I do believe that it did happen the way you said.

>>true Florida panthers have been extirpated. I think all the panthers down there are intergrades with panthers from south Texas. The Florida panther population has gotten so bad that they purposely introduced some panthers from Texas, and now I have recently read that "true" Florida panthers are probably extinct.
>>
>>Either way, to me, that is a hall of fame sighting....Congrats
>>
>>Someone please correct me if I am misguided.
>>
>>
>>Matt
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Actually, as I remember, the Texas cats got killed pronto.
One got nailed by a car and then one got shot. One other was killed by a local Florida cat. I really doubt that they were very successful

There were several experiments with Texas Cats in Florida. A couple involved releasing them in North Florida, which is part of the historic range of these animals, but well away from the SW Florida area that they are confined to today. In 1995 8 female Texas Cougars were released into South Florida, with the hope of making the offspring of Texas-Florida Cats more genetically robust. Anyway, all the Texas Cats were tracked and some had litters in 1998. With a estimated population of about 50 total individuals, I think it is safe to say that of the panthers that are left, a good number of them are probably still true Florida Panthers. A more diverse gene pool is a good thing though. Just my two cents...

Joe

I spent all of my high school years snake hunting in panther territory but never saw one.
I spent a year as an intern with the FG&FWFC while I was getting my law enforcement degree...never saw one.
I spent two years as a reserve officer for the FG&FWFC and not a one (though I did hear them calling a few times).
But finally, in 1989 I saw one on SR 846 in Hendry County. I caught two anerthryistic corn snakes that night as well.

many folks who work big cypress and the other areas for more than 15 or so years have no spotted one yet. The fence along I-75 and 29 is keeping them from being road killed and they are doing better it seems. But what I saw was a big big cat. I mean I've seen florida panthers in parks and zoos and they were skinny scrawney things not much bigger than a big bob cat. What I saw looked like it was a big as a cougar and could kill me if it wanted to. In any case, I am glad it was alive and as solid an animal as it was.

Dan

I just got off the plane after a week of herping down there. I was hoping to see one, but no luck. I guess I can't complain, I saw 55 species of herp in 3.5 days! Congrats on seeing a panther!
Jeff