by Ariane Cuvillon
What is a Florida panther?
This, on the righthand side, is a Florida panther. They derive from cougars that live in forests and swamps in southern Florida. The Florida panther just adapted itself to the environment of Florida. The Florida Panthers are usually found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and mix swamp forests.
The Florida panther is tawny above and whitish under. The back of the ears, tip of the tail and other parts of the face are “highlighted” with darker black or brown. Both genders look alike. Their weights and length may vary from, 32 – 45 kilograms and 188 centimeters for females, to 50 – 75 kilograms and 220 centimeters for male.
The Florida panther was chosen as Florida’s state animal in 1982.
The Florida panthers were an additional struggle to early Florida cowmen, who already had to survive in difficult conditions. They had to fight panthers, wolves, bears, and cattle rustlers.The cowmen would spend weeks or months on cattle drives throughout difficult walks and large scrub woods, usually enduring burning heat, torrential thunderstorms, and hurricane winds.
The Florida Panthers used to go on peoples’ properties, such as backyards, or made holes in fences to get food, bother cowmen or even just wander around.
In 1869, organized hunting parties strive to eradicate black bears and Florida panthers that threaten Pinellas cattle industry.
There has not been any confirmed attacks on humans by Florida panthers since 1900.
In 1967, Florida panthers were added to the endangered species’ list.
Around the 1970s, there were an estimate of only 20 Florida panthers in the wild, the numbers have increased to an estimate of 100 to 160 by 2011. In 2013, it was said that there are only 160 Florida panthers in the wild.
To increase the Florida panthers’ population, wildlife managers added several female Texas cougars (the closest to Florida panthers, they also share historical genetics) into the Florida panthers’ populace in 1995.
There are plenty of interviews, or even articles, taken from ones that were affected by the wandering around of the Florida panthers in Pinellas County.
This article is from January 15th, 1995
The “animals” seemed to just wander around with no actual purpose, if they were actually seen, this opened Pinellas county’s inhabitants’ eyes to the possibility that they were not alone anymore, but they never truly were.
Partial Interview of someone who met a Florida Panther
“Mark Poole walked the fence line at his house near Naples, trying to find the hole that he figured his missing goats must have used to escape. At the back of his property, 300 feet from his house, he saw a dark shape. When he got within 12 feet, it growled at him.
An endangered Florida panther was eating one of his chickens. It was not going to let go, not even when confronted by a human.
Poole backed up fast, until his backyard motion-sensor light popped on and the panther skedaddled, leaping the 4-foot fence with ease. After that, Poole started carrying a shotgun when he went into the backyard, and worrying about his kids catching their school bus down the street.”
For full interview of Mark Poole and more (very interesting facts), go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/florida-panther-faces-new-danger-its-growing-fearlessness/1179467
Photos taken in Mark Poole’s backyard, near Naples:
Links
http://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/ranching/
I used this link to describe how the panthers affected cattle ranching
http://www.floridapanther.com/articles/FLORIDA%20PANTHER.htm
I used this link to describe panthers, habitat, needs etc.
This link showed how they wandered around and scared people
This link has a lot of interview to show the habit panthers had of going in other’s backyard and scare them
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_panther
This was used for general information
Pinellas County History Project 