Living in or visiting the urban fringe or remote areas of South Florida means that you are in Florida panther habitat. Though there has never been a documented attack against humans by a panther, people should still take precautions. These are large predators that deserve respect.
There are steps that people can take to insure their safety, and that of their personal property from any type of wildlife - panthers, bear, alligators, and even raccoons, opossum and squirrels can all do some damage.
Click on the links below to learn about safely living in and visiting wild areas.
Florida Panthers - What You Need to Know
Protecting Your Property from Wildlife Damage
A Guide to Living With Florida Panthers
The National Park Service partners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor panthers within the area, track their whereabouts and monitor the health of individual cats and the population as a whole.
Learn more about the monitoring program, and other aspects of the panther partnership in the documents below.
The 2007 Interagency Florida Panther Response Team Report
BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE FLORIDA PANTHER (Puma concolor coryi) RESEARCH AND MONITORING ANNUAL REPORT (Documents are low resolution for faster downloading.)
2006 - 2007
2005 - 2006
2004 - 2005
2003 - 2004
2002 - 2003
Revised Proposal, 2002 - Florida Panther Research and Monitoring in Big Cypress National Preserve: Application for a Federal Fish and Wildlife Service Permit to Capture and Handle Panthers
