Florida Panther Facts and Video - Puma concolor coryi - Defenders of Wildlife

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The Florida panther, Florida’s state animal, is one of the most endangered mammals on earth. It is tawny brown on the back and pale gray underneath. The Florida panther is one of 30 Puma concolor subspecies known by many names – puma, cougar, mountain lion, painter, catamount and panther.

Fast Facts

Height: 23-27 inches at the shoulder for males; females are smaller.
Length: 7 feet from nose to tip of tail for males; 6 feet for females.
Weight: males average 130 lbs; females 70-75 lbs.
Lifespan: 10-15 years.

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Diet

Florida panthers primarily eat white-tailed deer. They are also known to eat feral hog, rabbit, raccoon, armadillo and birds. When people who live near panthers leave their pets and small livestock out in the open at night, panthers have been known to take these animals opportunistically.

Population

Estimated at fewer than 100 adults and subadults in the only known breeding population (South Florida).

Range

Historically ranged across the southeastern United States including Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and parts of Tennessee and South Carolina. Now, the breeding population of Florida Panthers is found only in the southern tip of Florida, south of the Caloosahatchee River. In recent years, young male panthers have traveled as far as northeast Florida. Females do not roam as widely. See a panther range map >>

Behavior

Panthers are habitat generalists, meaning that they use a variety of habitat types, including forests, prairies and swamps.

They are solitary and territorial animals that travel hundreds of miles within their home range. Panthers are mostly active between dusk and dawn, and rest during the heat of the day. Males have a home range of 200 square miles and females about 75 square miles.

Panthers are usually quiet, but they do communicate through vocalizations. Sounds they make have been described as chirps, peeps, whistles, purrs, moans, screams, growls, and hisses. Females signal their readiness to mate by yowling or caterwauling.

Reproduction
Mating Season: Throughout the year with a peak in winter/spring.
Gestation: About 90 days.
Litter size: 1-4 kittens.
Rarely do all kittens survive. Kittens are born with dark spots that soon fade away as they become adults. They stay with their mother for up to two years.

Climate Change and Other Threats

Defenders at Work

Defenders of Wildlife is working to save Florida panthers by protecting the large tracks of habitat necessary to their survival in Florida. Defenders is also working with public partners, private partners and wildlife agencies to re-establish panthers in their historic range. Learn more >>

One of the effects of climate change is sea-level rise, which, due to Florida's low elevation, puts a tremendous strain on its ecosystems and critical habitats. The Florida panther is one species whose habitat would be threatened by an increase in sea level.

Panthers are also threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation due to human development, collision with vehicles, territorial disputes between panthers (intraspecific aggression), inbreeding resulting from an isolated population, mercury poisoning, parasites and disease (such as feline leukemia and feline distemper).

Reasons For Hope

In 2008, a coalition of leading conservation organizations and landowners in Eastern Collier County announced a Florida Panther Protection Program, whose main objectives are to protect a significant, contiguous range for the wide-roaming panther and to create a fund that can help acquire, restore or enhance panther habitat. Such funding would also help install panther crossings and fencing to help the cats safely cross roads. Learn more >>

Legal Status/Protection

Endangered Species Act (ESA): The Florida panther is listed as endangered, both under the ESA and in the state of Florida.
CITES: The panther is listed under Appendix I.
The Florida panther is also listed under the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Act; Florida Administrative Code; (Georgia) Protection of Endangered, Threatened, Rare or Unusual Species; and Georgia Code.
Learn more about legal status and protection of Florida panthers >>