Florida panther, cougar, mountain lion, screamer, catamount…all these names belong to one species, the Puma (Puma concolor). There are over 40 common names for these cats, and this is in part due to the sheer size of their range.

Puma are the most widely distributed mammal in the western hemisphere, and can be found from Canada to the southernmost tip of Argentina. These cats are highly adaptable and can be found in deserts, rainforests, and mountains.

Puma have 6 recognized sub species, only one of which is found east of the Mississippi River, the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). Florida panthers historically were found from parts of South Carolina across to Arkansas and from Tennessee to the tip of Florida.

Today there are estimated to be around 120 to 230 panthers that are confined to 5% of their historic range. The Caloosahatchee River is the northern boundary of the breeding population of Florida panthers, with only males being found north of the river. In 2018, the first female panther with a kitten was seen just north of the river. This is wonderful news for the species, and since then another female with kittens has been spotted.

As their numbers increase Florida panthers will have to push northward. With this good news comes challenges. With the numbers of cats increasing, there is also the higher chance of human/wildlife conflict, proper habitat, and vehicular strikes.

The number one reason for Florida panthers deaths is vehicular strikes (60%). It is important for researchers to understand the spatial needs of the Florida panthers and locate key corridors the cats use to help lower the number of these roadway deaths. Florida Fish and Wildlife, along with other agencies and conservation groups, have collared and tagged several cats, as well as using camera traps and aerial surveillance.

There have been over 230 Florida panthers killed by car strikes in the past 10 years, and with a population in the low 100s, each panther loss is tremendous blow.

There are various methods to tracking Florida panthers. The two more widely used by researchers are:

• Collaring: Florida Fish and Wildlife needs to capture a representative sample of the population. To do this, they use dogs to track and tree a panther. When the panther is treed a biologist will dart the cat with a tranquilizer (don't worry they have a stretcher to catch it). When the cat is settled the biologists do a full physical on it, take samples, given vaccines, and finally they put identifiers on the panther (a radio collar, a microchip, and an inner ear tattoo).

• Camera Traps: Camera traps are tools that allow us to capture images of panthers and other wildlife unbeknownst to the animals. These cameras allow researchers and enthusiasts to gain useful information about what areas panthers and their prey (White-tailed deer, Wild boar, etc.) are using. Thanks to their prevalence, anyone who has a camera trap and captures images of a Florida panther, they can send it to Florida Fish and Wildlife has a website and app that will confirm and map where the cat was spotted. Thanks to a camera trap in Babcock estates, researchers have the first photographic evidence of mating north of the Caloosahatchee.