Florida's Most Endangered Species
02/14/2006
The Florida panther, a subspecies of Puma (also known as mountain lion, cougar, painter, or catamount) is the last subspecies still surviving in the eastern U.S. The panther once ranged throughout the southeastern U.S. from Arkansas and Louisiana eastward across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and parts of South Carolina and Tennessee. Today the panther is restricted to less than 5% of its historic range in one isolated breeding population of approximately 80 animals, located in southern Florida.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is entrusted with ensuring the survival and recovery of this last large felid in the eastern United States. The South Florida Ecological Services Field Office (SFESFO) in Vero Beach, Florida, oversees the overall panther recovery program and is responsible for maintaining and implementing an up-to-date recovery plan for the species. The SFESFO also administers all regulatory aspects of the ESA as they relate to the Florida panther including section 7 consultations regarding federal actions that may affect the panther and section 10 habitat conservation planning. The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge serves as a demonstration area showcasing state of the art panther habitat management and facilitating coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regarding day to day panther research and monitoring activities.
For More Information:
For issues related to the recovery of the Florida panther, contact Chris Belden; For regulatory issues, contact Allen Webb.
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