FLORIDA PANTHER DISTRIBUTION From the Proceedings of THE FLORIDA PANTHER CONFERENCE Dennis B. Jordan, Editor November 1-3, 1994 Ft. Myers, Florida Florida Panther Interagency Committee Table 1. Number of panther records by method received. How Received Number Percent Phone Call 2,278 49.31 Correspondence 409 8.85 Wildlife Observation Report 101 2.19 Personal Interview 76 1.65 News Article 16 0.35 Unknown/Not Recorded 1,740 37.65 Total 4,620 100.00 Back to Text Table 2. Number of panther reports by year of observation Year Number Percent Prior to 1976 474 10.26 1976 71 1.54 1977 145 3.14 1978 203 4.39 1979 138 2.99 1980 119 2.58 1981 108 2.34 1982 131 2.84 1983 269 5.82 1984 334 7.23 1985 472 10.22 1986 492 10.64 1987 488 10.55 1988 563 12.19 1989 420 9.09 (a)1990 73 1.58 Unknown Date 120 2.60 Totals 4,620 100.00 (a) Through June 1990 Back to Text Table 3. Number of panther records by season. Season Number Percent Winter 1,101 23.83 Spring 1,206 26.10 Summer 1,021 22.10 Fall 932 20.17 Unknown 360 7.80 Total 4,620 100.00 Back to Text Table 4. Panther Records in Florida by county and category, 1976-1990. County 1(a) 2(b) 3(c) 4(d) 5(e) Total County 1 2 3 4 5 Total Alachua 0 0 1 68 44 113 Lake 0 0 1 60 25 86 Baker 0 0 2 1 1 4 Lee 0 1 1 195 28 225 Bay 0 0 1 8 3 12 Leon 0 0 0 19 2 21 Bradford 0 0 0 6 1 7 Levy 0 0 6 36 12 54 Brevard 0 0 3 151 27 181 Liberty 0 0 0 3 0 3 Broward 0 2 17 96 38 153 Madison 0 0 0 1 3 4 Calhoun 0 0 0 1 0 1 Manatee 0 0 0 45 16 61 Charlotte 0 0 1 136 21 158 Marion 0 3 3 120 43 169 Citrus 1 0 2 62 10 75 Martin 0 0 1 82 22 105 Clay 0 0 3 9 3 15 Monroe 0 2 14 69 18 103 Collier 5 39 39 201 54 338 Nassau 0 0 1 7 3 11 Columbia 0 0 3 8 3 14 Okaloosa 0 0 2 6 1 9 Dade 2 6 42 184 38 272 Okeechobee 1 1 0 34 13 49 DeSoto 0 0 2 29 8 39 Orange 0 2 1 87 26 116 Dixie 0 0 0 7 2 9 Osceola 0 2 5 56 17 80 Duval 0 0 1 7 6 14 Palm Beach 1 2 13 278 86 380 Escambia 0 0 0 5 2 7 Pasco 0 0 1 75 16 92 Flagler 0 4 13 22 12 39 Pinellas 0 0 0 28 3 31 Franklin 0 0 0 1 0 1 Polk 0 0 4 172 39 215 Gadsden 0 0 0 6 3 9 Putnam 0 2 1 42 15 60 Gilchrist 0 0 0 12 5 17 St. Johns 0 0 2 34 9 45 Glades 2 1 9 21 7 40 St. Lucie 0 0 1 95 29 125 Gulf 0 0 0 3 5 8 Santa Rosa 0 0 2 4 2 8 Hamilton 0 0 0 3 5 8 Sarasota 0 1 30 152 21 204 Hardee 0 0 0 18 3 21 Seminole 0 0 0 27 11 38 Hendry 0 1 7 47 9 64 Sumter 0 0 0 19 4 23 Hernando 0 0 0 32 10 42 Suwannee 0 0 1 9 1 11 Highlands 0 2 12 102 23 139 Taylor 0 0 5 12 3 20 Hillsborough 0 0 3 153 28 184 Union 0 1 1 1 0 3 Holmes 0 0 0 0 2 2 Volusia 1 2 1 105 24 133 Indian River 0 2 5 52 16 75 Wakulla 0 0 1 13 3 17 Jackson 0 0 1 6 1 8 Walton 0 0 2 7 4 13 Jefferson 1 0 0 2 2 5 Washington 0 0 1 5 3 9 Lafayette 0 0 0 0 4 4 Unknown 0 1 0 12 8 21 TOTAL 14 77 256 3371 902 4620 (a)Specimen available for examination as to taxonomic status. (b)Documented evidence positively attributable to a panther. (c)Visual sighting by qualified observer - no evidence (d)Visual sighting by all others - no evidence. (e)Incredible reports and those found to be false. Back to Text Table 5. Number of panther reports by type. Type Number(a) Percent Sightings 4,079 82.02 Tracks 559 11.24 Kills (Prey) 109 2.19 Vocalization 90 1.81 Specimens 62 1.25 Other 60 1.21 Unknown 14 0.28 Total 4,620 100.00 (a)Individual reports could contain more than one type. Back to Text Table 6. Evidence submitted to support panther reports. Evidence Panther Dog Bobcat Otter Housecat Raccoon Bear Coyote Exotic cat Fox Gator Deer Unknown Total Percent Tracks 8 78 48 1 1 1 1 1 3 142 35.15 Track Casts 47 34 21 3 3 1 109 26.98 Photographs 19 36 18 2 3 1 7 86 21.29 Carcass 6 5 13 1 1 1 2 29 7.18 Other 3 4 9 1 17 4.21 Scats 5 1 8 1 15 3.71 Skulls 1 2 1 4 0.99 Hides 2 2 0.50 Total 91 160 118 6 4 4 1 2 1 1 1 1 14 404 100.00 Percent 22.52 39.60 29.21 1.49 0.99 0.99 0.25 0.50 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 3.47 100.00 Back to Text Table 7. Reported color of animals observed Color Number Percent Tan 1262 30.94 Brown 986 24.17 Black 478 11.72 Gray 231 5.66 Mixed 88 2.16 Other 30 0.74 Red 25 0.61 White 5 0.12 Unknown 974 23.88 Total 4,079 100.00 Back to Text Table 8. Observer estimate of weight (kg) of animals observed. Weight Number Percent 0 - 23 553 13.56 24 - 45 868 21.28 46 - 68 124 3.04 69 - 91 35 0.86 91+ 9 0.22 Unknown 2,490 61.04 Total 4.079 100.00 Back to Text Table 9. Observer estimate of height (cm) of animals observed. Height Number Percent 0 - 30 31 0.76/td> 31 - 61 770 18.88 62 - 91 647 15.86 92 - 121 45 1.10 122 - 183 28 0.69 Unknown 2,558 62.71 Total 4,079 100.00 Back to Text Table 10. Observer estimate of body length (cm) of animals observed Body Length Number Percent 0 - 30 2 0.05 31 - 61 120 2.94 62 - 91 548 13.43 92 - 122 474 11.62 123 - 152 192 4.71 153 - 183 63 1.54 184 - 213 8 0.20 214 - 243 3 0.07 Unknown 2,669 65.44 Total 4,079 Back to Text Table 11. Observer estimate of tail length (cm) of animals observed. Tail Length Number Percent 0 - 30 96 2.35 31 - 62 461 11.30 63 - 91 464 11.38 92 - 122 80 1.96 123 - 153 11 0.27 154 - 213 6 0.15 Unknown 2,961 72.59 Total 4,079 100.00 Back to Text Table 12. Reported distance (meters) from observers to animals observed. Distance Number Percent 0 - 50 1,750 42.90 51 - 100 366 8.97 101 - 150 61 1.50 151 - 200 54 1.32 200+ 52 1.27 Unknown 1,796 44.04 Total 4,079 100.00 Back to Text Table 13. Reported duration of observation (minutes of animals) Duration of Observation Number Percent < 1 1,062 26.04 1 - 5 521 12.77 5 - 10 113 2.77 10 - 15 65 1.59 15 - 20 22 0.54 20 - 25 18 0.44 25 - 30 14 0.34 30 - 60 9 0.22 60+ 7 0.17 Unknown 2,248 55.12 Total 4,079 100.00 Back to Text Table 14. Reported behavior of animals observed. Behavior Number Percent Next to or crossing road 1,526 37.41 Calm, not excited 503 12.33 On observer's property 209 5.12 Retreating from observer 185 4.54 Feeding or in pursuit of prey 157 3.85 Aggression toward people 107 2.62 Dead 76 1.87 In an open area 62 1.53 In or near water 60 1.47 Pursued by dog(s) 7 0.17 Playful 2 0.05 Laying up in a tree 1 0.02 Fighting 1 0.02 Unknown 1,183 29.00 Total 4,079 100.00 Back to Text Table 15. Habitat type at location of panther report Habitat Type Number Percent Pine Flatwoods 525 11.36 Developed Subdivisions 316 6.84 Everglades Sawgrass 162 3.51 Agricultural Land 121 2.62 Mangrove Swamp 96 2.08 Improved Pasture 92 1.99 Longleaf Pine 90 1.95 Coastal Swamp 83 1.80 Hardwood Swamp 74 1.60 Hardwood Hammock 72 1.56 Prairie 71 1.54 Sand Pine Scrub 59 1.28 Cypress Swamp 55 1.19 Open Scrub Cypress 49 1.06 Mixed Hardwood & Pine 43 0.93 Golf Course 25 0.54 Cabbage Palm Hammocks 21 0.45 Fresh Water Marsh 13 0.28 Planted Pines 6 0.13 Unknown 2,647 57.29 Total 4,620 100.00 Back to Text Table 16. Number of panther reports involving complaints of depredation by animal involved Prey Number Percent Chickens 132 2.86 Other 92 1.99 Cows 33 0.71 Dogs 29 0.63 Horses 20 0.43 Hogs 14 0.30 Goats 14 0.30 None reported 4,286 92.78 Total 4,620 100.00 Back to Text Table 17. Areas in Florida surveyed for panther sign 1976 - 1990 Area (County) Man-Hours Km searched Acosta Creek (Putnam) 13.0 21.0 Arbuckle WMA (Highlands) 109.5 745.5 Avalon Park (Orange) 11.5 56.0 Babcock Ranch (Charlotte) 32.5 73.5 Big Cypress National Preserve (Collier) 446.0 1,440.0 Brighton Indian Reservation (Glades) 64.5 317.0 Bull Creek WMA (Osceola) 145.0 481.0 Collier Corp. Lands (Collier and Hendry) 88.5 138.0 Collier-Seminole State Park (Collier) 2.5 2.5 Conservation Area 3A (Dade) 9.5 Corbett WMA (Palm Beach) 28.0 142.5 Corkscrew Swamp Santuary (Collier) 647.5 1,722.5 Dupuis Environmental Area (Palm Beach) 12.5 108.0 Escape Ranch (Osceola) 9.0 24.0 Everglades National Park (Dade) 18.5 118.5 Fakahatchee Conservation Club (Collier) 63.0 40.0 Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve (Collier) 136.5 237.5 Farmton WMA (Brevard and Volusia) 189.5 689.0 Fellsmere and Peavine Grades (Osceola) 24.0 80.0 Fisheating Creek WMA and Regufe (Glades) 187.0 316.0 Forton's Fellsmere Lease (Osceola) 1.5 9.5 Ft. Drum WMA (Okeechobee) 167.0 474.5 Garcon Swamp (Escambia) 2.5 5.5 Georgia-Pacific Co. Lands (Volusia) 85.0 415.0 Golden Gate Estates - South (Collier) 2.0 3.0 Guana River WMA (St. Johns) 5.5 16.0 Gulf Hammock (Levy) 2.0 11.0 Hatbill Park (Brevard, Orange, and Volusia) 121.0 352.0 Highlands Hammock State Park (Highlands) 3.0 9.5 Kicco WMA/U.S.A.F. Avon Park Bombing Range (Highlands) 177.5 1,541.0 Kissimmee River area (Highlands) 11.5 16.0 Lake Butler WMA 15.5 71.0 Lighter Knot Hunt Club/Tomoka WMA (Flagler) 144.0 611.5 Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Palm Beach) 15.0 29.0 Magnolia Ranch (Orange) 6.5 37.0 Miami Ranch (Indian River) 2.0 2.5 Miccosukee Indian Reservation (Broward) 29.5 116.5 Myakka River State Park (Manatee and Sarasota) 51.0 133.5 Ocala National Forest (Marion) 82.0 454.4 Orlando Wilderness Park (Orange) 5.5 15.0 Osceola National Forest (Baker and Columbia) 483.0 1,214.5 Prairie Lakes Preserve (Osceola) 5.5 5.5 Price's Ranch and Sunniland Area (Collier) 4.0 8.0 Relay WMA (Flagler) 163.5 838.0 Rollins Blue Cypress Ranch (Osceola) 11.0 29.0 Seminole Indian Reservation (Hendry) 175.5 500.0 Seminole Ranch WMA (Seminole) 93.5 251.0 Smoak Ranch (Highlands) 12.0 57.5 St. Johns River National Wildlife Refuge (Brevard) 3.5 9.5 Three Lakes WMA (Osceola) 40.5 213.5 Tosohatchee State Preserve and WMA (Orange) 259.5 973.5 Townsend's Lease (Brevard) 5.5 30.5 Water Management District Lands (Brevard) 2.5 12.5 Total 4,427.0 15,219.0 Back to Text Table 18. Areas surveyed in Florida where panther sign was found and effort per sign found. Panther Sign Found Area Number Hr/Sign Km/Sign Conservation Area 3A 1 9.5 --- Price's Ranch and Sunniland area 5 0.8 1.6 Golden Gate Estates - South 1 2.0 3.0 Fakahatchee Conservation Club 11 5.7 3.6 Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve 55 2.5 4.3 Collier Corp. Lands 13 6.8 10.6 Fisheating Creek WMA and Refuge 20 9.4 15.8 Big Cypress National Preserve 75 5.9 19.2 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary 20 32.4 86.1 Everglades National Park 1 18.5 118.5 Seminole Ranch WMA 2 46.8 125.5 Farmton WMA 3 63.2 229.7 Seminole Indian Reservation 2 87.8 250.0 Tosohatchee State Preserve and WMA 3 86.5 324.5 Ft. Drum WMA 1 167.0 474.5 Bull Creek WMA 1 145.0 481.0 Back to Text Table 19. Areas surveyed in Florida where panther sign was found and type of sign found, 1976-1990 Type of Panther Sign Found Area Sightings Tracks Scats Scrapes Total Conservation Area 3A 1 1 Price's Ranch and Sunniland area 2 3 5 Golden Gate Estates - South 1 1 Fakahatchee Conservation Club 9 2 11 Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve 25 3 27 55 Collier Corp. Lands 6 6 1 13 Fisheating Creek WMA and Refuge 10 6 4 20 Big Cypress Naitonal Preserve 51 8 16 75 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary 1 7 6 6 20 Everglades National Park 1 1 Seminole Ranch WMA 2 2 Farmton WMA 3 3 Seminole Indian Reservation 2 2 Tosohatchee State Preserve and WMA 1 2 3 Ft. Drum WMA 1 1 Bull Creek WMA 1 1 Total 3 118 29 64 214 Back to Text Back to FPS Home Page