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New speed zone on Hendry County highway will help protect Florida panther
4/04/12
New speed zone on Hendry highway will help protect Florida panther
News Release
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Media contact: Carli Segelson, 561-882-5703
A new speed zone in Hendry County will make crossing the road safer for panthers and other wildlife. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) worked with the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners and partners such as Defenders of Wildlife to create the new zones on Keri Road, also known as CR 832.
Keri Road is a rural road that passes through the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest. Since 1996, the FWC has documented nine panthers that were killed by vehicle collisions along this road. Florida’s panther population today is an estimated 100 to 160 adults.
The new speed zone, which will reduce the nighttime speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph, will go into effect this week. The zone would extend approximately 5.25 miles from the east-west boundary of Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, from Wild Cow Grade to Railroad Grade.
“Vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of death for Florida panthers,” said Darrell Land, FWC panther team leader. “Speed zones such as this can make a real difference in the conservation of this endangered species. Reducing your speed reduces your stopping distance. If an animal is on the road, potential collisions can be avoided.”
Vehicle collisions are the greatest source of human-caused mortality to this federally endangered species. Already, in 2012, there have been three documented deaths of panthers hit by vehicles. Among the 24 documented panther deaths in 2011, nine, or more than a third, were due to collisions with vehicles.
“Traveling at 45 mph instead of 55 mph adds about one minute to the five-mile drive,” said Land. “We’re just asking for a minute of someone’s time for the Florida panther.”
Motorists should be aware that violators may receive fines exceeding $200 for their first offense of exceeding the slow speed zone, and any violation of more than 29 mph over the posted limit may result in a mandatory court appearance.
The FWC encourages people to report sightings of an injured or dead panther by calling the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC or *FWC on a cell phone. Another option is texting Tip@MyFWC.com (standard usage fees may apply).
For more information on Florida panthers and how you can help, visit www.floridapanthernet.org and click on “Safe Roads for People and Panthers” under the “Further Reading” section.
Interagency Florida Panther Response Team Annual Report: 2010-2011
3/16/12
Read the report here.
March 13, 2012
According to a report compiled by a group of federal and state agencies, Florida panther depredations more than doubled in Fiscal Year 2010-2011 as compared to Fiscal Year 2009-2010.
The report, called the 2010-11 Interagency Florida Panther Response Team Report, summarized human-panther interactions investigated by the Interagency Florida Panther Response Team between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.
The rise in depredations is the report’s most notable finding. Depredations more than doubled in FY10-11 (28 depredations) from FY09-10 (12 depredations). However, officials caution that this isn’t necessarily a cause for concern.
“The exact reason for the increase is unknown, but we speculate that a family group -- a mother and her three kittens -- took advantage of plentiful, unsecured hobby livestock/pets in a Naples neighborhood,” said biologist Mark Lotz of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). “Another potential reason is that our outreach efforts have been effective and more people are reporting depredations now.”
Ben Nottingham of the Florida Panther NWR added, “The increase in reported and confirmed depredations by panthers exemplifies the need for animal owners to diligently protect their animals by securing them in predator-proof enclosures. Doing so will prevent loss of pets/animals, prevent attracting panthers and promote public safety.”
The Response Team includes biologists, law enforcement officers and other agency representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and the FWC. As more humans move into panther habitat, the potential for human-panther interactions increases so the team developed a plan to promote public safety and panther conservation.
The report summarizes human-panther interactions including panther sightings, encounters, and panther depredations on domestic livestock and various pets. Additionally, the report summarizes outreach and educational efforts completed by the team, partnering organizations and local government agencies to provide the public with the information and tools they need to live and recreate in panther habitat. To view the report, please visit http://www.fws.gov/verobeach and http://floridapanthernet.org
Three Florida panthers die in early 2012
1/12/12
3 Florida panthers die in early 2012, after 24 deaths, 32 births documented in 2011
Florida panthers are off to a rough start in 2012, with three deaths documented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Last year, 24 Florida panther deaths were recorded, but FWC biologists also observed 11 radio-collared females giving birth to 32 panther kittens. Overall, the known number of newborn panthers in 2011 appears to have offset the known number of panther deaths.
Today, an estimated 100 to 160 adults of this federally endangered species live in Florida. Panthers almost disappeared from the wild in this state when their numbers fell to fewer than 30 in the 1970s. Since then, their population has been increasing.
Collisions with vehicles continues to be the greatest source of human-caused mortality to this long-tailed cat that can weigh up to 160 pounds and grow to 6 feet or longer.
Already, in just the first week of 2012, there were two documented deaths of panthers hit by vehicles on highways in Collier County, where the greatest concentration of panthers in the state is found. The third fatality was caused by a fight with another panther. Among the 24 documented panther deaths in 2011, nine deaths, or more than a third, were due to collisions with vehicles.
“Florida panther deaths are most often the result of one of two things: collisions with vehicles or aggression from other panthers,” said Kipp Frohlich, head of the Imperiled Species Management Section at the FWC. “We can’t control panthers fighting when they are defending their territory; that is a part of nature. But we can do something about human-caused panther mortalities.”
“People who slow down and drive carefully in rural areas, especially where panther crossings are identified, can make a difference in conservation of this endangered species. It is especially important to slow down and keep a careful lookout at dawn or dusk, when panthers are most likely to be on the move,” Frohlich said.
The FWC continues to work with many partners to conserve and increase habitat available to panthers on both public and private lands. This is a critical step to ensuring the survival of panthers, the official state animal of Florida.
People are encouraged to report sightings of an injured or dead panther by calling the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC or *FWC on a cell phone. Another option is texting Tip@MyFWC.com(standard usage fees may apply).
For more information on Florida panthers, go to www.floridapanthernet.org.