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Panther Pulse

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2013

New Litters

Date Handled Mother Father Age of Litter # Males # Females Kitten IDs Location
3/21/13 FP215 Unknown 13 days 0 2 K392, K393 Private property
3/10/13 FP148 Unknown 17 days 1 2 K389, K390, K391 Picayune Strand State Forest
2/26/13 FP192 UNknown 19 days 2 0 K387, K388 Big Cypress National Preserve
1/02/13 FP151 Unknown 17 days 0 2 K385, K386 Big Cypress National Preserve

Deaths

Date Discovered Panther ID Age Sex Cause of Death County Location
4/28/13 UCFP192 10 years female Vehicle Collier CR846
4/26/13 FP184 5-6 years female Intraspecific Aggression Collier Big Cypress National Preserve - Addition Lands Unit
3/16/13 UCFP191 2-3 years male Vehicle Hendry SR80, east of LaBelle
3/20/13 UCFP189 5 months female Vehicle Collier Golden Gate Estates, Everglades Blvd S.
2/01/13 UCFP188 2-3 years male Intraspecific Aggression Hendry Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
1/31/13 UCFP187 4 months unknown Vehicle Hendry CR835
1/26/13 UCFP186 2-4 years male Intraspecific Aggression Collier Private property southeast of Immokalee
1/03/13 UCFP185 10 months male Vehicle Collier SR29
1/01/13 UCFP184 7 months female Vehicle Hendry CR833

2012

New Litters

Date Handled Mother Father Age of Litter # Males # Females Kitten IDs Location
12/11/12 FP161 Unknown 2 weeks 1 1 K383, K384 Big Cypress National Preserve
10/09/12 FP198 Unknown 2 weeks 3 1 K379, K380, K381, K382 Lee County Water Utilities property
8/06/12 FP180 Unknown 2 weeks 3 0 K376, K377, K378 Big Cypress National Preserve
7/18/12 FP175 Unknown 2 weeks 2 1 K373, K374, K375 Big Cypress National Preserve, Bear Island Unit
7/11/12 FP191 FP187 14 days 0 1 K372 Big Cypress National Preserve, Turner River Unit
7/07/12 FP178 Unknown 3 weeks 0 3 K369, K370, K371 Big Cypress National Preserve, Bear Island Unit
6/26/12 FP162 FP187 3 weeks 1 1 K367, K368 Big Cypress National Preserve
6/05/12 FP213 Unknown 6 days 2 1 K364, K365, K366 Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
5/14/12 FP190 Unknown 20 days 1 2 K361, K362, K363 Big Cypress National Preserve
4/25/12 FP161 Unknown 2 weeks 2 2 K357, K358, K359, K360 Big Cypress National Preserve
4/15/12 FP192 Unknown 21 days 3 0 K354, K355, K356 Big Cypress National Preserve
3/28/12 FP191 Unknown 14 days 1 0 K353 Big Cypress National Preserve
3/03/12 FP195 Unknown 2 weeks 1 0 K352 Picayune Strand State Forest
2/19/12 FP153 Unknown 9 days 4 0 K348, K349, K350, K351 Big Cypress National Preserve, Turner River Unit
2/16/12 FP145 Unknown 3.5 weeks 2 1 K345, K346, K347 Big Cypress National Preserve

Deaths

Date Discovered Panther ID Age Sex Cause of Death County Location
12/11/12 FP182 3 years female Unknown Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
12/09/12 UCFP182 3 years male Vehicle Orange CR520 near CR528
11/27/12 UCFP181 2-3 months female Vehicle Collier Immokalee Rd, 3.6 miles north of Oil Well Rd
11/19/12 UCFP180 4-5 years male Vehicle Collier US41
11/19/12 UCFP179 3 years male Vehicle Collier SR29
11/14/12 UCFP178 1 year female Vehicle Collier SR29
11/04/12 UCFP177 4 months female Vehicle Collier 18th Ave NE (Golden Gate Estates)
10/09/12 UCFP176 3 months female Vehicle Collier Immokalee Rd., 2 miles north of fairgrounds
10/08/12 UCFP175 1 year male Vehicle Collier SR29, 1.7 mi north of US41
10/06/12 FP196 2.5 years female Vehicle Collier US41, 0.87 mi east of San Marco Rd
8/28/12 UCFP174 10 mo male Intraspecific aggression Hendry Private property east of Okaloacoochee Slough Satate Forest
7/18/12 FP197 4.5 years male Unknown Lee Lee County Port Authority Mitigation Property
6/19/12 UCFP173 7 mo female Vehicle Collier CR846, 1.5 mi east of Oil Well Grade Rd
5/26/12 UCFP172 ~3 mo male Vehicle Collier Captivity
This kitten was discovered unresponsive along the roadside on 4/23/2012 and taken into captivity for care. He succumbed to complications on 5/26/12.
5/23/12 UCFP171 2 years male Vehicle Lee SR 80 near Lee/Hendry County line
5/21/12 FP211 2 years male Intraspecific Aggression Hendry IMG Grove
5/18/12 FP212 3 years male Intraspecific Aggression Collier Private Property
4/16/12 UCFP170 3 years male Vehicle Lee Alico Rd
4/05/12 UCFP169 9 wks male Unknown Hendry Orange grove near Church Rd
2/27/12 FP133 12 yrs male Intraspecific Aggression Collier Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
2/23/12 K351 12 days male Malnutrition/starvation Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
2/06/12 UCFP168 5 years male Vehicle Collier US41; 0.4 km east of Bass Rd
1/12/12 FP194 1 yr 8 mo male Intraspecific Aggression Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
Removed from wild Jan 12 when movements restricted. Died Jan 13 from injuries.
1/07/12 UCFP167 4 yrs female Vehicle Collier US41, 1/2 mi. west of Manatee Rd
1/05/12 FP189 3-5 male Intraspecific Aggression Collier Private Ranch
1/02/12 UCFP166 4-5 years male Vehicle Collier SR82, 2.4 mi west of SR29

2011

New Litters

Date Handled Mother Father Age of Litter # Males # Females Kitten IDs Location
12/15/11 FP110 Unknown 10-14 days 0 2 K343, K344 Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
8/07/11 FP113 Unknown ~4 wks 0 1 K342 Private property
6/10/11 FP151 FP187 21 days 1 1 K340, K341 Big Cypress National Preserve, Turner River Unit
6/09/11 FP145 Unknown 12 days 1 2 K337, K338, K339 Big Cypress National Preserve, Deep Lake Unit
5/26/11 FP188 Unknown 18 days 2 1 K334, K335, K336 Private property, Lee County
4/29/11 FP182 Unknown 14 days 3 1 K330, K331, K332, K333 Big Cypress National Preserve
4/26/11 FP184 Unknown 12-14 days 3 1 K326, K327, K328, K329 Big Cypress National Preserve, Addition Lands Unit
4/15/11 FP162 Unknown 3 weeks 4 0 K322, K323, K324, K325 Big Cypress National Preserve
3/09/11 FP113 Unknown 14-17 days 1 0 K321 Private Land
1/27/11 FP175 Unknown 21 days 1 1 K319, K320 Big Cypress National Preserve, Bear Island Unit
1/27/11 FP178 Unknown 12-14 days 2 0 K317, K318 Big Cypress National Preserve, Bear Island Unit
1/17/11 FP148 Unknown 12 days 2 0 K315, K316 Picayune Strand State Forest

Deaths

Date Discovered Panther ID Age Sex Cause of Death County Location
10/30/11 UCFP165 3-4 years female Vehicle Collier SR29 near Collier/Hendry County line
9/19/11 UCFP164 3-4 years female Vehicle Collier SR29, Owl Hammock curve, 5.5 mi southof Immokalee
9/14/11 FP188 3.5 years female Unknown Collier Private Property
9/03/11 UCFP163 3-4 yrs male Unknown Hendry Private Property
7/29/11 FP156 6 years male Unknown Collier Picayune Strand State Forest
7/11/11 UCFP162 1-1.5 years male Vehicle Collier SR29, Owl Hammock curve, 5.5 mi southof Immokalee
7/06/11 UCFP161 7-9 male Intraspecific Aggression Collier Silver Strand citrus grove, north of Immokalee
6/01/11 FP186 1 year male Intraspecific Aggression Collier Bird Rookery Swamp
5/02/11 K325 5 weeks male Wild fire Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
K's 322, 323, 324, 325 were littermates born to FP162 in April. They all succumbed to the Jarhead wildfire while in the den.
5/02/11 K324 5 weeks male Wild fire Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
5/02/11 K323 5 weeks male Wild fire Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
5/02/11 K322 5 weeks female Wild fire Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
4/30/11 UCFP160 14 months male Vehicle Collier US41 near 50 Mile Bend
3/25/11 FP83 11 yr 10 mo female Vehicle Collier US41 (2 mi west of Port of the Islands)
3/25/11 UCFP159 Information pending unknown Information pending Information pending Information pending
3/17/11 UCFP158 Information pending unknown Shot Seminole Geneva, FL. Old Mims Rd.
3/15/11 UCFP157 Adult female Unknown Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
Skeletal remains were several years old. Although the remains were collected in 2011, this panther will not be considered a 2011 death.
3/04/11 FP170 4.5 yrs female Intraspecific Aggression Collier Picayune Strand State Forest
2/26/11 UCFP156 3-4 yrs male Vehicle Collier I-75 (Alligator Alley, MM114)
2/23/11 UCFP155 Information pending unknown Poached Collier Golden Gate Estates area of Naples, FL
1/22/11 UCFP154 10-11 mo male Intraspecific Aggression Hendry Private property
1/22/11 UCFP153 8 mo male Vehicle Collier I-75 (Alligator Alley) mile marker 98
1/13/11 UCFP152 1.5 years unknown Vehicle Collier I-75 (Alligator Alley), mile marker 98
1/07/11 K284 1.5 years male Vehicle Hendry SR29 near Sears Rd
1/05/11 FP141 8.5 years male Unknown Hendry Private property

The updates for 2011 are also available as printable PDFs.

2010

New Litters

Date Handled Mother Father Age of Litter # Males # Females Kitten IDs Location
8/04/10 FP110 Unknown 10-12 days 1 2 K312, K313, K314 Okaloacoochee Slought State Forest
8/02/10 FP175 Unknown 18 days 0 2 K310, K311 Big Cypress National Preserve
7/15/10 FP113 Unknown 5-7 days 1 2 K307, K308, K309 Private property
6/22/10 FP178 Unknown 17 days 2 0 K305, K306 Big Cypress National Preserve
6/06/10 FP102 Unknown 21 days 2 0 K303, K304 Big Cypress National Preserve
5/26/10 FP161 Unknown 16 days 1 2 K300, K301, K302 Big Cypress National Preserve, Turner River Unit
4/21/10 FP158 Unknown 4 weeks Unknown Unknown Not marked Picayune Strand State Forest
Kittens were not marked but 2 individuals were observed.
4/13/10 FP148 Unknown 2 weeks 1 2 K297, K298, K299 Picayune Strand State Forest
3/23/10 FP162 FP133 14 days 1 2 K294, K295, K296 Big Cypress National Preserve
2/25/10 FP145 Unknown 4 weeks 1 2 K291, K292, K293 Big Cypress National Preserve
2/20/10 FP172 Unknown 2 weeks 3 0 K288, K289, K290 Big Cypress National Preserve
Enduring mosquitoes are just one of the challenges these young panthers will face in their lifetimes. FP113 had 1 male and 2 females in this July 2010 litter. Enduring mosquitoes are just one of the challenges these young panthers will face in their lifetimes. FP113 had 1 male and 2 females in this July 2010 litter.
FP148's kittens, 1 male and 2 females, line up in their den in Picayune Strand State Forest. FP148's kittens, 1 male and 2 females, line up in their den in Picayune Strand State Forest.
FP172's 3 male kittens are tucked away in the back of the den. FP172's 3 male kittens are tucked away in the back of the den.

Deaths

Date Discovered Panther ID Age Sex Cause of Death County Location
12/23/10 UCFP151 10-18 months female Intraspecific aggression Collier Private property
12/22/10 FP173 5 years male Aspiration of stomach contents Lee Lee County Port Authority
The immediate cause of death was aspiration of stomach contents. The ultimate cause of the panther’s condition, however, is unknown but may be related to a stomach infarction.
12/19/10 UCFP150 8-9 months male Vehicle Hendry CR846, 1/2 mile south CR833
12/13/10 UCFP149 1.5 years male Vehicle Collier Golden Gate Blvd, between 5th and 7th Streets
12/12/10 UCFP148 2-3 years male Vehicle Hendry US27 south of Moore Haven
11/17/10 FP176 4-5 years male Vehicle Hendry CR832 (Keri Rd), Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
10/25/10 FP102 12 yrs, 8 mo female Intraspecific aggression Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
10/15/10 FP168 8 years female Intraspecific Aggression Lee CREW, Flint Pen Strand
10/01/10 UCFP147 3 years female Vehicle Collier US41 (1.7 mi. east of Monroe Station)
8/03/10 UCFP146 3 years female Vehicle Collier SR29, 2 miles north of CR858
Survived initial collision. Received treatment but died next day (8/4/10) from injuries. UCFP146 was carrying 3 mid-late term fetuses.
6/24/10 UCFP145 16-18 months male Vehicle Collier SR29 2 miles south of Immokalee
6/21/10 FP144 6 years male Intraspecific Aggression Collier Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Lands Unit
5/31/10 UCFP144 1 year male Vehicle Hendry CR833, 0.4 mi N of CR832 (Keri Rd)
5/23/10 UCFP143 6-8 months male Vehicle Collier US41, 1/2 mile east of Manatee Rd
5/22/10 FP158 5 years female Vehicle Collier US41, 1/2 mi. east of SR92 (San Marco Rd)
5/21/10 FP169 5-6 years male Vehicle Collier US41 (west of Monument Lake)
5/04/10 UCFP142 8 mo. female Vehicle Collier Golden Gate Blvd (between 5th and 7th St NW)
4/29/10 UCFP141 6 months female Vehicle Hendry Church Rd near Hendry Co landfill
4/15/10 UCFP140 2 years male Vehicle Lee I-75 (mile marker 117)
3/22/10 FP172 5 years female Intraspecific Aggression Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
3/16/10 FP174 4-5 years male Vehicle Collier I-75 (Alligator Alley, mile marker 95)
3/13/10 UCFP139 3 years female Vehicle Collier CR850; by CREW hiking trail
1/29/10 UCFP138 8 years male Unknown Collier Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve
Skeletal remains only. Several months old.
1/19/10 UCFP137 2.5 years male Intraspecific Aggression Lee CREW Flint Pen Strand
This dependent aged kitten was struck by a vehicle on a rural Hendry County road on April 29, 2010. This dependent aged kitten was struck by a vehicle on a rural Hendry County road on April 29, 2010.

2009

New Litters

Date Handled Mother Father Age of Litter # Males # Females Kitten IDs Location
7/28/09 FP170 Unknown 22 2 1 285, 286, 287 Picayune Strand State Forest
7/20/09 FP168 Unknown 7 2 0 283, 284 CREW
Kitten fur coloration was very light.
7/08/09 FP153 Unknown 30 2 0 281, 282 Big Cypress National Preserve
5/07/09 FP162 Unknown 25-27 0 1 280 Big Cypress National Preserve
2/25/09 FP161 Unknown 16 2 1 277, 278, 279 Big Cypress National Preserve
Florida panther kitten eyes, like these from FP170's recent litter in Picayune Strand, start out blue at birth and turn golden after a few months. Florida panther kitten eyes, like these from FP170's recent litter in Picayune Strand, start out blue at birth and turn golden after a few months.
The fur of FP168's kittens is oddly paler than normal. The fur of FP168's kittens is oddly paler than normal.

Deaths

Date Discovered Panther ID Age Sex Cause of Death County Location
12/31/09 UCFP136 3-4 months female Vehicle Collier County Barn Rd
12/29/09 UCFP135 4 years female Vehicle Collier SR29 near Jerome
12/23/09 UCFP134 3 years male Vehicle Collier Corkscrew Rd near Gate 5 of CREW (Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed) Wildlife and Environmental Area
10/10/09 UCFP128 3 years female Illegal take Collier Golden Gate Estates/north Belle Meade area
12/17/09 UCFP133 3-4 years male Vehicle Broward I-75 (near Snake Rd)
11/19/09 UCFP132 Unknown male Vehicle Osceola Florida turnpike near Yehaw Junction
Head removed. Report anonymous tips to 888-404-3922. See news release for more information http://www.myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/09/northeast/News_09_NE_PantherDecapitated.htm
11/01/09 UCFP131 3-4 months female Vehicle Hendry CR833
10/21/09 UCFP130 3-4 years female Vehicle Collier CR846, 2 mi east of Immokalee
10/19/09 UCFP129 3-4 months male Vehicle Collier CR846, 2 mi east of Immokalee
10/09/09 UCFP127 3-4 years female Unknown Collier Turner River; 1/2 mile south of US41
10/05/09 FP166 5-6 years male Intraspecific Aggression Hendry Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation
9/15/09 UCFP126 2 years male Unknown Collier Private property east of Ave Maria
9/06/09 UCFP125 2 years female Vehicle Collier I-75 (Alligator Alley, mile marker 96)
7/28/09 FP204 19 years female Euthanized Collier White Oak Conservation Center
This panther was part of the intended captive breeding population and does not represent a free-ranging mortality. She was euthanized due to her failing health.
8/05/09 UCFP124 1.5 years male Vehicle Collier I-75 (near mile marker 90)
6/12/09 FP140 7 years female Intraspecific Aggression Collier Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
5/25/09 UCFP122 1.5 years male Vehicle Collier Immokalee Rd (near Camp Keais Rd)
5/14/09 UCFP121 2 years male Vehicle Collier SR29 (4 miles south of I-75)
4/21/09 UCFP120 2 years female Gun Shot Hendry Big Cypress Mitigation Bank
4/09/09 UCFP119 2-3 years female Vehicle Collier US41 near Turner River
3/25/09 UCFP118 1.5 years male Vehicle Lee Treeline Ave.
2/02/09 UCFP117 3 years male Intraspecific Aggression Hendry Seminole Indian Reservation
1/20/09 UCFP116 4-5 years female Vehicle Collier SR29, 3 miles south of Immokalee
1/17/09 K253 1.5 years male Vehicle Collier I-75 (on sothbound exit ramp to SR29)
1/11/09 UCFP115 4 years male Vehicle Hendry CR832

2008

New Litters

Date Handled Mother Father Age of Litter # Males # Females Kitten IDs Location
7/20/08 153 unknown 14 days 2 1 274, 275, 276 Big Cypress National Preserve
6/06/08 158 146 14-17 days 3 1 270, 271, 272, 273 Collier Seminole State Park
5/23/08 162 138 14 days 1 1 268, 269 Big Cypress National Preserve
268 and 269 were found dead, partially consumed, in their den.
5/02/08 140 154 7 days 2 0 266, 267 Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
3/04/08 151 unknown 21 days 1 1 264, 265 Big Cypress National Preserve
The litter of radio-collared panther FP158. The litter of radio-collared panther FP158.
These kittens are the litter of radio-collared mother FP140. These kittens are the litter of radio-collared mother FP140.

Deaths

Date Discovered Panther ID Age Sex Cause of Death County Location
11/16/08 UCFP123 3-4 years male Gun Shot Troup (GA) Troup County, Georgia
Geneticly confirmed to be Florida panther. Father is FP137.
7/28/08 UCFP108 2-3 years female road kill Collier CR846; 1.7 mi E of CR858
5/23/08 K269 2 weeks male unknown Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
discovered in den, partially consumed
5/23/08 K268 2 weeks female unknown Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
discovered in den, partially consumed
5/22/08 UCFP107 2-3 years female road kill Collier CR951; south of US41

The updates for 2008 are also available as printable PDFs.

2007

Deaths

Date Discovered Panther ID Age Sex Cause of Death County Location
7/01/07 FP164 2.5 years male unknown Collier Big Cypress National Preserve
only skeletal remains were discovered

The updates for 2007 are also available as printable PDFs.

About Panther Pulse

Radio-collared Florida panthers are monitored year-round three times per week from a Cessna 172 fixed-wing aircraft. National Park Service (NPS) biologists at Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) and Everglades National Park (ENP) assist the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in collecting telemetry flight data within each park's respective boundaries while the FWC collects data throughout the rest of the panther's range. The number being tracked fluctuates as new panthers are added to the radio-collared population each capture season and mortalities occur throughout the year.

Radio collars are maintained on a sample of Florida panthers as part of a long-term study to monitor the genetic vitality of the population to determine if additional genetic mixing with the Texas panther is required, to monitor and guard against new diseases, aid in recovery of dead panthers to investigate mortality causes, document reproductive success and to monitor many other demographic aspects.

Reporting Births

Researchers examine Florida panther kittens at the den site when they are about two weeks old. Biological samples such as blood and skin biopsies are collected to gauge the overall health and genetic makeup of the individuals. Each kitten is then weighed and dewormed. Most importantly, a transponder chip is inserted just below the skin near the shoulder area of each kitten. These microchips are very similar to those used to identify pets and allow us to permanently mark each individual.

Reporting Deaths

Mortality (death), induced by both nature and humans, is a given with all wildlife populations. Endangered species, such as the Florida panther, must strike a fine balance between births and deaths in order to continue their existence. The population has undoubtedly increased since the mid 1980s and we may be witnessing the result of this increase in the form of more documented deaths. However, we are still finding plenty of evidence that panthers continue to persist in the expected areas.

In order to establish a cause of death the FWC panther veterinarian, sometimes assisted by other specialists, performs a full necropsy on every panther carcass recovered. Rapid decomposition in the south Florida heat and scavenging by vultures often make determinations of natural causes difficult. Hides and skeletal remains are then archived at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.

Florida PantherNet • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission