Tabby Reed
- Oct 10, 2020
- 2 min read

Puma- Florida Panthers

Florida panthers are the only pumas that live on in the eastern United States and are only found in southern Florida (NWF Florida Panther, 2020). The Department of the Interior listed the Florida panther as an endangered subspecies in 1967 (USFW Florida Panther, 2020). The Florida panther was added to the United States endangered species list in 1973 (NWF Florida Panther, 2020). It is believed there are between 120 and 130 left in the wild, resulting in them being currently listed as endangered (NWF Florida Panther, 2020).

Hunting and habitat loss greatly reduced their population (NWF Florida Panther, 2020). These threats have created issues within their populations and have eliminated their gene flow leading to inbreeding and a decrease in genetic variation (USFW Florida Panther, 2020). If nothing is done these pumas may go extinct (USFW Florida Panther, 2020). In 1958 hunting these pumas became illegal (FDS State Animal, 2020). In 1995 eight female pumas were transferred from Texas to Florida to try and increase genetic variation (USFW Florida Panther, 2020). Five of the eight female pumas produced at least 20 kittens, which added new genes into the population (USFW Florida Panther, 2020).

In 1982 students throughout the state of Florida voted to have the Florida panther as their state animal, and it is still Florida’s state animal today (FDS State Animal, 2020). Between 2014 and 2019 over 160 pumas were killed by vehicle strikes (Panther Crossing 60 Seconds, 2020). Panther Crossing, through the Naples Zoo, is asking drivers to drive at the posted speed limit to help save pumas by allowing you more time to react if a puma jumps out in front of you (Panther Crossing 60 Seconds, 2020). If the speed limit is 45 mph driving through three miles would only take you one extra minute compared to driving 60 mph (Panther Crossing 60 Seconds, 2020). They ask drivers to give 60 seconds for panthers (Panther Crossing 60 Seconds, 2020). If you commit to the minute you can receive a sticker to put on your car to allow other drivers to know that you slow down for pumas (Panther Crossing 60 Seconds, 2020).

You can symbolically adopt a Florida panther and help panthers in the wild. You can learn more about the Florida panther in Craig Pittman’s book Cat Tale: The wild, weird battle to save the Florida panther. Pittman discusses the threats the Florida panther faced and the teams that worked to protect them. He also mentions the transfer of Texas cougars into Florida. You can also buy a Protect the Panther Florida license plate.