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Private Land, Panther Survival

Conversion of private lands to intensive agriculture and residential development threatens the future survival of the Florida panther. The greatest concentration of unprotected panther habitat is private land in eastern Collier County and southern Hendry County. Panthers may also reside on large areas of private land in Charlotte, Lee, and Glades counties.

Recognizing this, the state of Florida is working with landowners to help preserve habitat.

Private lands are critical to the survival of the Florida panther. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates that 53 percent of the Florida panther's current range is on private land.

Research Question

Two research questions for you to ponder....
QUESTION 1: Discuss this quote in reference to panther habitat.

"Human society's dependence upon natural systems is clear. We need plants to capture sunlight and to provide food, building materials, and energy. We need breathable air, potable water, and arable soils. We need our waste products recycled. These and other ecosystem services are essential to human life and they are often provided with minimal or no human intervention." --John Cairns Jr. 1995

QUESTION 2:

The Seminole and Miccosukee Indians like the Florida panther inhabit a much smaller environment than they did in the past. Where are they from and how did their culture change (adapt) to the South Florida environment?

Between 1981 and 1991 studies of radio-collared panthers math exercise revealed that only 4 panthers had ranges entirely on public land, 24 panthers had 20 percent of their home range on private land, and 14 had more than 50 percent of their home range on private land (Kautz 1994).

Conversion of private lands to intensive agriculture and residential development threatens the future survival of the Florida panther. The greatest concentration of unprotected panther habitat is private land in eastern Collier County and southern Hendry County. Panthers may also reside on large areas of private land in Charlotte, Lee, and Glades counties. Recognizing this, the state of Florida is working with landowners to help preserve habitat.

Math Excercises

Here are four math exercises related to the panther for you to try.
Activity 1

Graph the number of panthers that use public land and the number of panthers that use both public and private land.

Activity 2

Panthers are usually healthy if they live where every 40 hectares of land has at least 1 deer and 1 hog. In which of these places would you be most likely to find healthy panthers?

  1. 1 deer and 1 hog for every 80 hectares
  2. 1 deer and 1 hog for every 20 hectares
  3. 1 deer for every 80 hectares
  4. 3 deer and 4 hogs for every 120 hectares
  5. 1 hog for every 60 hectares
Activity 3

Adult panthers have to eat about 10 raccoons to equal the value of 1 deer. If they need to eat 1 deer or 1 hog each week to stay healthy, which of the following panthers would be most likely to be healthy. A female with kittens needs twice the amount.

  1. A female with kittens who ate 2 deer and 2 raccoons within 2 weeks.
  2. A male who ate 20 raccoons and 1 hog within 3 weeks.
  3. A female with kittens who ate 1 hog and 1 deer within a week.
  4. A male who ate 1 hog, 1 deer, and 5 raccoons within a month.
  5. A female without kittens who ate 2 hogs and 10 raccoons within 3 weeks.
Activity 4

Write your own questions and try to stump your friends.

Continue to: Freshwater Marshes

Florida PantherNet • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission