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TX101 -- TX101 traveled south from Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation (BCSIR) then crossed east of the L-28 feeder canal towards the latter part of July. She spent two flights between the canal and Snake road before returning to the BCSIR where she remained for the rest of the reporting quarter. She was located with Male Florida panther #45 for one flight on 18 September. Her kittens (1 male, 1 female) are about 1 year old.
TX103 -- TX103 was located in Gator Hook Swamp in Big Cypress National preserve (BCNP) within a half mile radius from 8-26 July. she used small hardwood hammocks in which vultures were observed perched on several occasions. Her movement pattern indicated that she was making kills rather than denning. A few locations were searched for kills or male sign after she moved out, but none was found. TX103 remained within her home range during August. Several consecutive locations at the same site indicated that she is making routine kills. TX103 remained within her home range during September, making normal movements and showing no sign of denning.
TX104 -- TX104 left Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve (FSSP) around the middle of July and ventured north through the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (FPNWR). Skirting the western area of Catherine Island, she wound up near Desoto Blvd. 1.5 mi. south of CR 858 in the north Golden Gate Estates. From here, she proceeded south and crossed I-75 (Alligator Alley) into the Belle Meade area. There were no wildlife crossings in the area where she was suspected to have crossed. By the end of the month she had returned to the Rock Island area of the FPNWR crossing the northern portion of the Picayune Strand State Forest (PSSF). There she remained throughout August associating with female panther #57 on two separate occasions. On 26 August she was in the company of female panther #32 and male panther #54. Most of September was spent on the north and west side of FSSP. Here she was located with TX106 on 3 flights between 16-20 September. On the 24th she moved through the PSSF and was in the Belle Meade area at the end of this reporting period.
TX105 -- This female Texas cougar continues to utilize the pinelands and hardwood hammocks of Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park. In mid-June she was located with male panther #16. By late August and early September she confined her movements to a small area at the west end of Long Pine Key indicating denning. On 4 October we located the den site and one female kitten. The kitten weighed 3 lbs. and 9 oz. and was given a liquid deworming medication. She was approximately four weeks old and appeared in good health. TX105 continues to remain in the vicinity of the den site, a hardwood hammock, and the surrounding pinelands.
TX106 -- This cat spent the bulk of her time in FSSP. She utilized the western portion which is drier than the strand proper. The last week of July was spent in the PSSF but she returned to FSSP after that. She was located with TX104 on 3 flights; 16, 18, 20 September. TX106 departed to the south of Jane's Scenic Drive in the preserve and then moved north-west into the PSSF where she remained through the end of the reporting period. Her one female kitten is 10.5 months old as of this update.
TX107 -- TX107 covered the area from Calusa Ranch west to Austin's cattle ranch in Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP). Although the females were not located with each other during July, they often were in close proximity. TX107 inhabited the western Turner River Unit during August between Austins old campsite and Dusty Rhoades airstrip. She was located on several flights in a hammock adjacent to panther #55's location, but they were not located together. TX107 ranged from Calusa Ranch area west to Austin's camp during September, overlapping with the ranges of both panthers #23 and #55. There were no indications of denning in this southern area of BCNP.
TX108 -- During July this female cougar showed reduced movements indicative of denning. She was located in the same hardwood hammock on Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park during the end of June and continuing through the first week of July. During the second week of July male panther #16 was located in the same hammock as the suspected den site. As a result of this disturbance, TX108 moved the den site into the edge of the Hole-in-the-Donut. She remained at this location for the remainder of the month. In late July an attempt was made to locate the den, but due to the thick vegetation (Brasilian Pepper) the effort was unsuccessful. This female continue to make small movements indicating that she still has kitten (s). We will continue to monitor her movements and will try to verify the existence of kitten(s) during the upcoming capture work.
Prepared by Mark Lotz, Darrell Land, Ken Johnson, Deborah Jansen, Sonny Bass, and Lori Oberhoffer (10/21/96)