Panthers

Mary Smith,coronerr with the Florida Department of Panther Deaths, examines the final panther that was alive before it was hit and killed by a motorist doing 132 mph to go home to Bellmar through a new "on-your-honor-" slow-speed, low-cost wildlife crossing on Oil Well Road installed by developers ...

Florida panther deaths return to average -- yet misinformation about numbers continues to air

Tom Bayles

As 2024 comes to an end, some journalists are having difficulty keeping the official panther death count from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission accurate. Why is unclear.

Environment

New panther license plate available for Florida motorists

WGCU Staff

A new Protect the Panther license plate is now available to Florida motorists. The new design features a striking photograph taken by Carlton Ward in 2018 of the first female panther documented north of the Caloosahatchee River since 1973, along with her kitten.

A Florida panther mother with her kitten are pictured in this photo taken when the duo tripped a remote camera set by famed National Geographic photographer and Tampa resident Carlton Ward, Jr., on the Babcock Ranch north of the Caloosahatchee River in 2018. The photo gave proof to the belief that the Florida panther is once again populating its historic, state-wide grounds, which lead to this re-issue of the state's speciality panther license plate to both mark the animal's return to North Florida and to raise money for continued conservation efforts on its behalf

Environment

Famed photographer adds fresh look to popular panther plate

Tom Bayles

A popular photo of a female Florida panther, with her kitten trailing behind, is set to be the third image featured on the state’s “Protect the Panther” specialty vehicle tag.The picture was taken in 2018 by famed National Geographic photographer Carlton Ward Jr. on the Babcock Ranch, which is about 15 miles north of Fort Myers and just north of the Caloosahatchee River when the panther duo tripped one of his remote cameras.

With fewer than 250 grown Florida panthers in SWFL, Save the Florida Panther Day draws awareness

Katie Fogarty

Collier County designated March 18 as Save the Florida Panther Day to bring more awareness to the endangered species.

Panther, Manatee, Burrowing Owl: Threats to Mammals & Florida Fowl

Matthew F Smith

In the environmentally sensitive landscape of Southwest Florida, there are a few endangered or threatened species that tend to take center stage. In…

Panther Milestone Stokes Conservation Questions

Matthew F Smith

Once facing extinction, the rebounding Florida panther has reached a milestone: Florida Fish and Wildlife biologists say they now have "strong evidence"…

Florida panthers live throughout Southwest Florida

Two More Florida Panthers Found Dead Near Naples, Total Rises To 29

Michal Kranz

Two Florida panthers were found dead last Friday in Collier and Hendry counties in Southwest Florida. One was a female that was killed in traffic and...

Government & Politics

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Seeks Public Comment On Eastern Collier County Development Proposal

Topher Forhecz

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on Tuesday for a proposal that would allow landowners to develop thousands of acres in…

Environment

Environmental Organizations Talk Human-Wildlife Conflicts

Topher Forhecz

Environmental organizations say they consider the Florida black bear and panther populations conservation success stories. Their numbers are coming…

Environment

Florida Panther Population Climbs

The Florida panther population is up. That likely will mean more panthers in Central Florida.WLRN.org