An animal's habitat is its home - the place where its basic needs for food, water, shelter or cover, and reproduction are met. The area where an animal is found is its range. The panther's range consists of nearly 1 million hectares in southwest Florida. Within the panther's range are a number of distinctive natural communities as well as areas disturbed to varying degrees by human activities.
Scientists usually define the natural communities on the basis of vegetation.
Most animals, including the panther, use a variety of natural communities to meet their needs. Panthers, especially young males, may travel through disturbed areas but their needs for adequate food and cover can only be met by the natural communities within their range. Panther habitat is also people habitat. This is where our fresh air and clean water comes from. And it is very important to us whether the panthers continue to exist or not.