Now one of the world s rarest mammals, the Florida panther historically roamed parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina as well as Florida. Surviving panthers are now found only in southern Florida. The remaining animals are in Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Lee and Glades counties, the Fakahatchee Strand area, Big Cypress National Preserve and Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and on adjacent private lands. The panther has been listed as endangered since 1973. Southwest Florida is being converted from native habitat to urbanization faster than nearly any other region in the United States.
Male panthers can measure as much as seven feet from nose to tail.
They can weigh more than 100 pounds. Adults have light tawny fur, a pale grey underbelly and longer, more slender tails and legs than other mountain lions. Panther kittens are spotted for the first year, helping to camouflage them against predators. Females give birth to one to four kittens. Panthers hunt wild hogs, deer and raccoons.