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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
2006-2007 Florida Panther Capture Season Summary

FP110 hangs momentarily before dropping safely to the net below.

This report briefly summarizes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) 2006-2007 panther capture season activities. It does not include data collected prior to November 8, 2006 or subsequent to March 6, 2007. These data along with a more detailed summary of the activities described hereafter will be provided in the FWC's Florida Panther Annual Report.

Capture Results

Preparations are made to draw blood from FP116.

Our capture efforts commenced on November 8, 2006 and continued through March 6, 2007. Fifty-three search days were divided between the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Lands and Bear Island Units, Everglades National Park, Okaloacoochee Slough Sate Forest and Wildlife Management Area, Picayune Strand State Forest and Wildlife Management Area, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Seminole Indian Reservation and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve (19, 5, 1, 14, 12.5, 0.5, and 1 days respectively).

Thirteen Florida panthers (FP) were captured by FWC staff (Table 1). Two previously uncollared panthers (FP149, FP154) were added to the study population. Two previously collared panthers were captured

After assembling the crash bag in an area out of FP149's view it is dragged into place shortly after she is darted.

and recollared after their radio collars had failed (FP131) or dropped off as scheduled (FP128). Radiocollars were replaced on nine panthers (FP110, FP113, FP116, FP137, FP142, FP143, FP144, FP146, and FP147) because data from these specific panthers will help achieve multiple research objectives.

We achieved the following objectives during our capture work in 2006-2007: 1) deployed Global Positioning collars (GPS) across a large part of the range of panthers to collect locational data throughout the 24 hour period in order to comprehensively assess habitat selection by panthers; 2) captured 3 panthers (1 new study animal, 2 recollars) abutting the urban-wildland interface along the western edge of their range (e.g., Picayune Strand State Forest (PSSF) and Belle Meade); 3) continued to vaccinate panthers for FeLV, and 4) evaluated different GPS collar technology.

Table 1. Florida panther captures during the 2006-2007 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's capture season

(November 8, 2006 - March 6, 2007).

Panther ID	Sex	Capture date	Capture location^a	Age (yrs.)	Weight (lbs.)	Collar type - brand model	Capture comments
FP110	F	8 Nov 2006	OSSF	6	107	GPS - Lotek	Recollar
FP113	F	9 Nov 2006	FPNWR	4yr 7mo	70^b	GPS - Lotek
FP116	F	20 Nov 2006	SIR	4yr 5mo	80	GPS - Lotek	Recollar. Last third of tail missing.
FP144	M	1 Dec 2006	BCNP	3^b	111	GPS - ATS	Recollar
FP142	F	5 Dec 2006	ENP	3.5^b	82	GPS - ATS	Recollar
FP137	M	11 Dec 2006	OKS	4-5^b	142	GPS - Tellus Basic GSM	Recollar
FP149	F	17 Jan 2007	PSSF	2-2.5^b	68	GPS - ATS	Initial collaring. Target area.
FP146	M	29 Jan 2007	PSSF	4^b	119	GPS - Telonics	Recollar
FP128	F	1 Feb 2007	BCNP	6yr 8mo	87	GPS - ATS	Recaptured after previous collar dropped off as scheduled while hunting in target area. Discovered by copulatory vocalizations.
FP154	M	21 Feb 2007	FPNWR	3^b	128	GPS - Lotek	Initial collaring. Target area.
FP131	M	22 Feb 2007	FPNWR	8^b	130	VHF - ATS	Recollar. Target individual wearing failed GPS collar.
FP143	M	27 Feb 2007	CE	2.5^b	140	GPS - Televilt	Recollar
FP147	M	6 Mar 2007	RBNER	1yr 11mo	120^b	GPS - ATS	Recollar

FP137 will soon wake from anesthesia after having his radiocollar replaced.

^a BCNP=Big Cypress National Preserve (units north of I-75);
CE=Collier Enterprise (private land);
ENP=Everglades National Park;
FPNWR=Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge;
OSSF=Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest/Wildlife Management Area;
PSSF=Picayune Strand State Forest/Wildlife Management Area;
RBNER=Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve;
SIR=Seminole Indian Reservation.

^b Age or weight estimated.

FP154 displays the pearly whites of a 3-year-old panther.

The scars onFP144’s face indicate he recently had a "discussion" with another panther.

Our mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission2006-2007 Florida Panther Capture Season Summary

Capture Results

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
2006-2007 Florida Panther Capture Season Summary