Florida Panther Endangerment

Endangerment of the Florida Panther and Florida’s Efforts at Recovery

The reasons for the phenomenon known as endangerment are varied and complicated.

Endangerment can occur either naturally, through environmental changes and evolution, or

unnaturally, due to human involvement in the environment such as encroachment and poaching.

One rapidly decaying species in particular has the state of Florida doing its best to find a

solution for this historically misunderstood mammal. The Florida panther's numbers have

decreased to the point of endangerment due to humans being one of its biggest threats through

the practices of encroachment and its resulting inbreeding, as well as vehicular collisions, and

chemical exposure in the environment.

The Florida panther, a subspecies of the cougar family known as puma concolor, is the only subpopulation to survive the extinction of that species. Charles Cory, naturalist and hunter, classified the Florida panther as felis concolor Floridana (Alvarez 131). Before the Florida panther, one of the most beloved animals in Florida, reigned as the state animal, it was mistreated and abused. Many of the practices used to deal with the Florida panther could be looked at as unseemly and cruel today. In the mid and late 1800's, the species puma concolor was feared by people because they believed it was a threat to their cattle. John Lee Williams, assistant to American naturalist John James Audubon, made statements referring to cattle deaths after visiting Florida, that panthers "were numerous in some parts and particularly destructive to calves." (Alvarez 36). This evidence could have been looked at as false as cattle deaths seemed to be isolated events. Although many people feel afraid at the thought of meeting a panther in the wild, the animal is quite shy in nature, and will not go out of its way to harm humans, unless it feels threatened (Handbook). The cougars were not as much of a real threat as they were made out to be and cattle could have been protected in more humane ways than the resultant slaughter of the cougars; however, as a result of these erroneous beliefs, the puma concolor was perfidiously hunted. One particularly cruel means to deal with this perceived threat was a bounty law that authorized a $5.00 reward for anyone who turned in a cougar scalp (Alvarez 36 - 37). Because of the bounty law, the puma concolor became almost extinct in Florida and only one subspecies, the Florida panther, survived. Even though the Florida panther has survived these acts of war made against it, the animal's modern day issues run as deep and problematic for the state animal. One of several causes for the endangerment of the Florida panther is the fact that the Florida panther's natural habit is decaying more and more with South Florida converting many of its natural acres into public roads and suburban areas (Gross 1526). This has affected the population of the Florida panther in many ways. Besides the encroachment of the natural habitat, it is also feared that without a suitable area of wild forests and swamps, the species could possibly feel stressed and stop making attempts to procreate. Florida panthers are nocturnal and prefer to hunt at night (Gross 1527). Many of the public roads that have encroached the natural habitat of the panther in South Florida have made it difficult for the animal to hunt adequately (Gross 1526). Without adequate acres to live and hunt, this human encroachment has resulted in inbreeding. By reducing the living space as well as the size of the panther population itself, this human intrusion into the panther’s natural habitat forces the panther to inbreed. Inbreeding is probably one of the most controversial topics when it comes to the Florida panther. Many Florida panthers suffer from depression caused by inbreeding, due to a lack of species (Gross 1529). Scientists have debated whether or not to induce an out-breeding program (Alvarez 37). Doing so could, theoretically speaking, help the Florida panther’s population to recover and thrive healthfully. This theory has divided the general public in half, because even though this program could help the Florida panther, many people feel that its bloodline should remain pure (Gross 1529).

As the word out-breeding implies, to out-breed is to let the Florida panther breed with other cougar species. According to an article titled “With Fresh Blood, Inbred Florida Panthers Rebound” by Robert Roy Britt, a writer for Livescience: "A controversial breeding program has improved the genetic diversity of inbred Florida panthers and the endangered animals are on the rebound, scientists announced today.” The progression rate of the Florida panther’s endangerment will determine if this program could create a full on start in order to help the Florida panther’s population regain some of its numbers. Recent statistics show that vehicular collisions are, in fact, a serious problem for the Florida panther’s survival rate as well: "In 2012, a record high of 19 panthers were killed while crossing the road. For a species whose population is believed to be just 100-160 adults, even the loss of a single cat is serious." (Reducing Panther Deaths on Roads). As the Florida panther faces extinction unless programs are implemented to restore its numbers, these statistics are not to be

taken lightly. There have been efforts to reduce the number of fatal accidents for the Florida panther by installing a "Roadside Animal Detection System (RADS)" in the state of Florida in January of 2012 (Reducing Panther Deaths on Roads). This system of wildlife detection alerts drivers to wildlife and should help to limit the amount of Florida panthers getting injured, and killed, in vehicular collisions.

Another advantage of the Roadside Animal Detection System is that it makes it easier, and safer, for the nocturnal Florida panther to hunt its prey during the night adding to its chance at survival. Chemical exposure is yet another serious concern for the Florida panther. Mercury and pesticides are some of the most common chemicals that affect the animal’s population. Florida panthers are carnivores, and their diet mostly consists of wild animals like raccoons and deer (Florida Panther). Mercury, which is found in rain water can transform into harmful bacteria. This bacteria is consumed by wild fish coming in contact with the rain water. Some wild animals, like raccoons, then eat fish from rivers or lakes and, in turn, are hunted by Florida panthers (Handbook). Exposure to this chemical can cause the Florida panther to have severe problems, like liver damage, due to the poisoning effects of mercury. Pesticide residues are another way that the Florida panther is exposed to chemicals in its ever decreasing environment (Handbook). Pesticides which humans have applied to wild grass and plants are

ingested by wildlife which the Florida panther may hunt. According to Florida PantherNet’s Handbook, "Studies of wildlife, laboratory animals, and human populations indicate that a variety of man-made chemicals may negatively affect health and reproduction by mimicking, blocking, or in other ways disrupting natural hormones (Miller 1999)." Through this research, Florida wildlife officials should make efforts to limit the amount of pesticides being sprayed throughout some of South Florida’s natural acres or any land bordering such. Hunted to the point of near extinction in the past, the Florida panther faces many man-made threats in our modern day society. Human encroachment of natural acres has reduced the natural habitat of these wild cats making hunting and breeding difficult. Inbreeding has occurred as a result. Vehicular collisions have added to the drastic decrease in the population of the Florida panther. Chemical exposure to mercury and pesticides have disrupted the life cycle of this mammal. The state of Florida has taken action to aid the recovery of the endangered Florida panther by attempting an out-breeding program and implementing a Roadside Animal Detection System. Further efforts should be made in limiting the Florida panther’s exposure to chemicals like mercury and pesticides. While all of these potential threats pose major variables in the Florida panther's rate of survival, time will tell how the protection efforts of wildlife agencies will affect the future of the Florida panther.