TX101 -- Tx101 left her den site near the end of February. She continues to use a relatively small area on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation indicating that kittens are still with her.

TX103 -- TX103 remained in her home range in Big Cypress National Preserve, making large movements and spending substantial time in the drying mixed swamp strands. A capture to recollar her was attempted on January 16, but she treed too high in a cypress tree for a safe capture. She appeared to be in good condition. Daily locations indicated that she made at least five kills at which she remained for two or more consecutive days. One kill was confirmed to be a buck. An attempted capture occurred on 14 February but she had already begun moving into a cypress strand by the time it was cool enough for a safe capture. The habitat within her home range consists of many cypress strands having tall cypress trees so capture sites are being selected that will minimize risk. Male panther #203 was released less than one mile north of her in Sig Walker Strand on 30 January 1997. Male panther #203 left her home range on 8 February with little likelihood that contact was made. TX103 remained in her home range and continued to make large movements throughout March. This area is dry so her use of the large mixed swamp strands has increased.

TX104 -- TX104 spent the last three months travelling from around the Catherine Island area north of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (FPNWR), and south into the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. However, the bulk of her time was spent around the Rock Island area of the Refuge. She was recollared on Rock Island on 23 January. She was located with male panther #32 on 20 January, and then again with male panther #54 on 17 February.

TX105 -- TX105 primarily utilized the pinelands and hardwood hammocks west and southwest of the Beard Center in Everglades National Park. She is traveling further than she did during previous months and still has her kitten. We observed both TX105 and her kitten as they walked through a prairie south of the Beard Center on 7 February. The female kitten is now about 8 months old. TX105 was observed dragging a deer kill into a hammock south of the Beard Center on 28 February.

TX106 -- TX106 generally remained in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve utilizing almost the entire length north to south and west of the East Main tram. She was located north of I-75 on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge for the first time during two flights near the end of March.

TX107 -- TX107 inhabited the Turner River Unit in the Big Cypress National Preserve during January, ranging from three miles east of Turner River Unit to the eastern boundary of that unit. She was recollared on 10 January and was found to be in good condition, weighing 96 pounds. Male panther #201 was released 0.3 miles south of her on 30 January. TX107 was first located with male #201 on the third day after his release. They were together for three occasions on 2, 4, and 5 February. She then moved to the ease into the western Corn Dance Unit where she remained the rest of February. Daily locations indicated that she made four kills at which she remained for two or more consecutive days. A large hog was found at a site she used for four days. TX107 has used the western side of the Corn Dance Unit during March. She has not been located with the other females during this time.

TX108 -- This female cougar has a larger home range than TX105. TX108 uses hammocks and pinelands of Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park as well as areas to the south and north. Her home range overlaps the range of TX105 but she tends to make longer movements--traveling north to an area west of Homestead General Airport and south to Sisal Pond. She is still traveling with her kitten. We watched TX108 and her kitten as they walked through a prairie west of Homestead General Airport on 7 February. We observed TX108 and panther male #16 walking together through a prairie just north of the Beard Center on 21 February. They were also located together on 26 February. Her kitten was captured and fitted with a radio collar on 4 March. The female kitten weighed 48 pounds and is approximately 10 months old.

Prepared by Mark Lotz, Darrell Land, Ken Johnson, Deborah Jansen, Sonny Bass, and Lori Oberhofer (4\4\97).