Listing Status
- Federal Status: Endangered
- FL Status: Federally-designated Endangered
- FNAI Ranks: G5T1/S1 (Globally: Demonstrably Secure, Sub sp. Critically Imperiled/State: Critically Imperiled)
- IUCN Status: Not ranked
Appearance:
The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is one of two native cat species in Florida, the other being the bobcat (Lynx rufus). Adult panthers are a uniform tawny brown in coloration, are 5-7 feet in length and can weigh between 60 to 160 pounds. A panther’s tail is as long as the body unlike a bobcat whose tail is only about one-third the body length. Bobcats are much smaller in size than panthers.
Habitat:
Florida panthers occur in peninsular Florida primarily south of Orlando. They will use all habitat types to some degree but rely upon forested areas that provide dense understory vegetation for rest sites, den sites and stalking cover.
Behavior:
Panthers are solitary in nature, except for females with kittens, and they do not form pair bonds with mates. They tend to be most active between dusk and dawn.
Conservation and Management
The Florida panther is protected as an Endangered species by the Federal Endangered Species Act and as a Federally-designated Endangered species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.
The panther recovery plan can be found at Florida Panther Recovery Plan.
Additional Information
Additional information about the Florida Panther can be found at MyFWC.com/Panther