STATUS: Endangered.
STATUS: Endangered.The panther, also known as cougar, mountain lion, puma and catamount, was once the most widely distributed mammal (other than humans) in North and South America, but it is now virtually exterminated in the eastern U.S. Habitat loss has driven the subspecies known as the Florida panther into a small area, where the few remaining animals are highly inbred, causing such genetic flaws as heart defects and sterility. Recently, closely-related panthers from Texas were released in Florida and are successfully breeding with the Florida panthers. Increased genetic variation and protection of habitat may yet save the subspecies.
DESCRIPTION: One of 30 cougar supspecies, the Florida panther is
tawny brown on the back and pale gray underneath, with white
flecks on the head, neck and shoulder.
SIZE: Weight: males, up to 130 pounds; females, 70 pounds.
HABITAT: Cypress swamps, pine and hardwood hammock forests.
RANGE: Originally from western Texas and throughout the southeastern
states; now found only in Florida.
FOOD SOURCE: Mostly white-tailed deer, sometimes wild hog, rabbit, raccoon, armadillo and birds.
POPULATION: 30-50 individuals.
BEHAVIOR: Solitary, territorial, often travel at night. Males have a home range of up to 400 square miles and females about 50-100 square miles.
REPRODUCTION: Reach sexual maturity at about 3 years. Mating season
is December through February. Gestation lasts about 90 days and
females bear 2-6 kittens. Young stay with mother for about 2 years.
Females do not mate again until young have left.
SURVIVAL THREATS: Habitat loss because of human development and population growth, collision with vehicles, parasites, feline distemper, feline alicivirus (an upper respiratory infection), and other diseases.
LEGAL PROTECTION: CITES, Appendix I, Endangered Species Act.
CONSERVATION: Reduced speeding zones, construction of panther underpasses, public education, captive breeding program and research.