Panther Conservation Issues Darrell Land Panther Team Leader

Panther Conservation Issues Darrell Land – Panther Team Leader Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida Panther Monitoring Began in 1981 and Continues Today

148 panthers have been monitored using radiotelemetry since 1981 Panther Telemetry Location Panther Roadkills

A scientific team was assembled and tasked with producing a spatially-explicit analysis of panther habitat

Kautz et al. 2006. How much is enough? Landscape-scale conservation for the Florida Panther. Primary Zone Secondary Zone Dispersal Zone

Population viability modeling over the next 100 years suggests that: (1) Panther populations of < 50 individuals are likely to go extinct; (2) Populations of 60 to 70 are likely to decline by 25% and be subject to inbreeding depression; (3) Populations of 80 to 100 are somewhat stable but have genetic problems; (4) Populations > 240 are stable and large enough to retain 90% of original genetic diversity. (5) Primary Zone is large enough to support 71 to 84 adult and juvenile panthers. (6) Secondary Zone, in its current condition, is capable of supporting only about 6 to 10 panthers. If restored, it has the potential to support about 25 to 30 panthers.

Current population estimated at 70 -100 panthers Primary Zone Secondary Zone Dispersal Zone

Current population estimated at 70 -100 panthers Primary Zone Secondary Zone Dispersal Zone

Use of Least Cost Pathways to Identify Key Highway Segments for Florida Panther Conservation Kathleen Swanson, Darrell Land, Robert Kawula, and Randy Kautz

OK Slough State Forest CREW Florida Panther NWR Big Cypress National Preserve

OK Slough State Forest CREW Florida Panther NWR Big Cypress National Preserve

OK Slough State Forest CREW Florida Panther NWR Big Cypress National Preserve

Panther Roadkills 1972 -81 1982 -90 1991 -98 1999 -05 Key Highway Segment

Least cost pathways and panther roadkills

Male and Female Panther Home Ranges Average male panther home range size is 102, 875 acres Average female panther home range size is 38, 557 acres

Average male panther home range size is 102, 875 acres Average female panther home range size is 38, 557 acres OK Slough, Dinner Island, Spirit of the Wild – 68, 000 ac CREW – 24, 000 ac

50 or fewer panthers Heading towards extinction HIGH 50 -70 panthers • Decline over time 80 -100 panthers • Somewhat stable • Genetic problems Management Intensity Current population of 70 -100 panthers > 240 panthers Stable population LOW

Fact: Florida is growing and we cannot shut the door Fact: From 2000 to 2004, Collier and Lee Counties added 92 new residents every day

How do we achieve landscape scale growth management and resource protection? • Economic incentives not only for development but for resource protection • Can only be successful with local support and buy-in • Regulatory tools alone cannot achieve resource protection • Send a strong message that environmental protection is critical to ensure high quality of life for Floridians

Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Immokalee Plan provides economic incentive for resource protection FL Panther NWR I-75

People Panthers

More people and more panthers will lead to more opportunities for human/panther interactions.

Commission confirms man's goat victim of panther attack By Ryan Mills Saturday, September 9, 2006 Just before going to bed Thursday night, Ben Tseng realized he had forgotten to lock the cage where he keeps the goats on his 4 -acre farm. When he went to look for them Friday morning, he noticed they were gone. But strangely, the door to his goat pen was still closed and a section of wire fencing near the ground had been pried up. Tseng suspected a panther attack and called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for help. Officers responded with a dog, who found a goat carcass about 800 feet back in the thick woods off Blue Sage Drive. The carcass had been covered with a mound of leaves, a sign of a panther attack. Officials say panther or cougar likely killed goats in Golden Gate Estates Sunday, September 29, 2002 By ERIC STAATS, What most people can see only on TV nature shows, Margaret Kreynus has seen in her own yard — up close and personal. The Golden Gate Estates woman found herself in the middle of her own Wild Kingdom episode one night recently as she watched a big, wild cat attack two of her pet goats just feet from her lanai, she said.

FWC, FWS and NPS have completed a draft Florida Panther Response Plan based in part on how western States deal with human/panther interactions.

Education and Outreach are critical components of the Florida Panther Response Plan

Manage native prey species Panthers respond to presence of potential prey. Feeding of wildlife should be discouraged around homes or public use places. Fencing designed to keep prey separated from people may be useful in some situations. Manage potential domestic prey Pets and livestock should be secured at night in roofed enclosures. Well-constructed fences and electric fencing are important for livestock safety in areas that abut panther habitat.

How can local government help with panther conservation? Identify and protect critical wildlife habitat Understand that each local “piece” is part of a regional conservation puzzle Minimize human/wildlife conflicts through education, rules and zoning Strive for better communication among Local, State and Federal entities