The Panther is the state animal of Florida and sadly their numbers are dwindling. Florida has the only breeding area in the United Stated for these magnificent cats. Right now, there are approximaly 100 panthers left in Florida.

Coming out to hunt from dusk to dawn, these elusive cats stay hidden in the shade of the swamps and forests. Hunting these large cats is illegal, however, 14 of these beautiful cats have been killed by cars just this year alone. The sad state of affairs that these panthers are in right now is that they will soon be extinct in the United States.

Panthers are very territorial with the male Panther having approximately a 200 mile range for his territory and a female Panther having approximately 75 miles of territory. These are solitary animals and only get together during mating season which peaks from winter to spring and the litters produce 1 or 2 cubs after a 90 day gestation period.

The Panthers territory is dwindling quickly in Florida. With multiple construction sites and an influx of people moving to the state, their territories are being destroyed. With no where else to go these beautiful cats are on the move to find new territories which brings them closer to populated areas.

Panthers primarily eat small animals such as rodents, armadillos, rabbits and raccoon. However, where there are people within a panthers territory, small dogs and cats can also become a meal. This isn't the Panthers fault as they are only hunting in their territory. 

In Florida, there have been no recorded Panther attacks on people, however, the attacks on livestock has been on the rise.  This is only due to the fact that the Panthers' territory has been turned into a pasture.  With no where else to hunt for food what is the Panther supposed to do?  Panther cages are recommended for livestock farmers to install around their pasture to keep these beautiful cats from killing the livestock.

It is unfortunate that someday we will only be able to see a panther in a cage in a zoo.  Personally, that is no way for these beautiful cats to live.  A sanctuary is where they belong,  however rounding up these elusive cats is a difficult task.  Wildlife specialists have been putting radio collars on some of these cats to track their territory behavior, again they have only put some collars on some cats.

This writer was raised in the mountains of New Hampshire where we lived with bears constantly coming into our yard.  We never had an attack and we never had to shoot a bear. I most recently lived in Arizona where Bobcats and Panthers would come out of the mountains into peoples back yards in the heat of the summer just to get a drink out of the homeowners pool.  Humans have been building on more undeveloped land in order to get away from the city and to be out in the country.  We are building on the panthers land, their territory.  So is it really the panthers fault if he wanders into your pasture and kills a calf or a family pet?  Or is it development of vacant lands which is diminishing the territory of these magnificent creatures? 

I have to say, one of the saddest things to see is a dead panther on the side of the road because it was hit by a car.