Florida Panther Genetic Restoration Progress Report

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Information provided by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission

June 1996
Seven of the eight(1) original animals introduced for genetic restoration purposes continue to utilize the same areas that have become established as their consistent use areas over the past several months. The monthly update will continue as a quarterly update because all animals have settled into home ranges within panther habitat and are exhibiting routine movements and activities. The next genetic restoration progress report will cover July, August, and September and arrive in October 1996.

TX101 -- TX101 spent about a week (three flights) east of the L-28 interceptor canal at the beginning of the month. Ground tracking on 4 June revealed that she still had her two kittens with her. She traveled west to within one mile of Snake Road. By 10 June she had returned to the west side of the canal and then returned to the area of Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation that she was using previously.

TX103 -- TX103 remained in her home range south of Highway 41 in Big cypress National Preserve. The sloughs, domes, and prairies have had standing water since the onset of the rainy season. She, therefore, has been located in pinelands and hammocks.

TX104 -- TX104 was located with female Florida panther #57 on 7 and 10 June south of the Pennington Post area in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve (FSSP). Male panther #54 had joined both females in the same area by 12 June. All three cats were still together on 14 June but had traveled north onto the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge just south of the Catherine Island area by using one or more of the I-75 wildlife crossings. TX104 remained in the area a few more flights while the other two panthers returned south to Fakahatchee. TX104 returned to FSSP by 21 June and has been using the northwestern portion of the Preserve.

TX105 -- This female continues to utilize the hardwood hammocks of Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park. Surface water levels are rapidly rising in the southern Everglades. TX105 has confined her travels to the higher elevations provided by Long Pine Key in the last month. She was located with male panther #16 on 5 and 7 June.

TX106 -- TX106 continues to use the western portion of Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, particularly the area north of Jane's Scenic Drive where the prescribed fire occurred during April 1996. She was located south of Jane's during only one flight.

TX107 -- TX107 used the southwestern corner of the Turner River Unit on the east side of Turner River Road in Big Cypress National Preserve. She spent the first half of the month in this area before returning to the Calusa Ranch area near Little Deer Airstrip.

TX108 -- TX108 has also drastically confined her movements to Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park. She was last recorded with male panther #16 in mid-March. TX108 has been located in the same hardwood hammock for 5 out of 6 flights during the last two weeks of the month. This may be an indication of denning but confirmation of kittens is pending.

(1)TX102 was struck by a vehicle and killed along County Road 833 in Hendry County between 20-21 September 1995.

Prepared by Mark Lotz, Darrell Land, Ken Johnson, Deborah Jansen, Ed Bennett, and Sonny Bass (7/9/96).