Florida PantherNet - Official Education Site

Conversion of private lands to intensive agriculture and residential development threatens the future survival of the Florida panther. The greatest concentration of unprotected panther habitat is private land in eastern Collier County and southern Hendry County. Panthers may also reside on large areas of private land in Charlotte, Lee, and Glades counties.

Recognizing this, the state of Florida is working with landowners to help preserve habitat.

Private lands are critical to the survival of the Florida panther. The Florida Game and Fresh

Water Fish Commission estimates that 53 percent of the Florida panther's current range on private land.

Between 1981 and 1991 studies of radio-collared panthers $math exercise$ revealed that only 4 panthers had ranges entirely on public land, 24 panthers had 20 percent of their home range on private land, and 14 had more than 50 percent of their home range on private

land (Kautz 1994). According to David Maehr, former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission biologist, public lands are only capable of supporting from 9 to 22 adult panthers, not enough to ensure future survival of the Florida panther.

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