Radio collars like the one shown here are critical in keeping tabs on panthers. Scientists follow radio signals from the air and ground. Scientists also use tracking dogs to find their exact location.

     Panthers are solitary, elusive animals and are rarely observed in the wild. Since 1981 scientists have fitted many Florida panthers with radio collars to help keep track of their movements. Still, much of what we know about panthers comes from what they leave behind: tracks, scrapes, scratches, scat (feces), and prey remains.

     Here we'll cover what we know about the panther's behavior including:

• sign like tracks, scat, scrapes and scratches
• vocalizations
• home ranges
• diet including what they eat and how often
• sleeping habits
• hunting methods
• mating and reproduction
• rearing of young
• life expectancy and mortality