From your backyard to the ballot box, explore these four areas where you can begin to help panthers and the people who live among them.
1. Driving For Panthers
Photo: Carlton Ward, Jr. and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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Buy a Panther Plate - Help a Panther
Your purchase of a Florida Panther specialty license plate supports the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund. These monies go to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's panther research and management efforts that affect both panthers and people. So when you read about a mother panther's leg being broken by a vehicle and her kittens being collected and rescued and then later returned to the wild together, that's the work of FWC biologists and their partners. Or when a calf is killed, an FWC biologist visits the ranch to see if they can confirm it was a panther so the rancher can apply for compensation. To buy a panther license plate visit your local tax collector's office. You can also donate to panther conservation including caring for injured panthers and releasing them back to the wild through Naples Zoo's panther efforts. Just write "panther conservation" in the comments and 100% of your donation benefits Florida's wild panthers. |
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Drive the Posted Speeds in Crossing Zones
Road kills are a leading cause of death for these panthers. In just 2016 and 2017, 58 of the known panther deaths were attributed to vehicle strikes including a 3-month-old kitten. Entire litters have been known to die in vehicle collisions. And when mothers die, the kittens are unlikely to survive. Driving the posted nighttime speed of 45 mph instead of 60 mph for a 3-mile-long panther crossing only adds a single minute to your drive, but can mean a lifetime for a panther. Commit online and get your sticker as a reminder to you and others to drive wisely in panther zones. |
Florida panthers crossing US 41 in Big Cypress National Preserve.
Photo: Peter Matthews.
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2. Personal Liability and Beyond
Wildlife Education to Increase Safety and Reduce Potential Liability
In general, property owners can be held liable for not using reasonable care to discover dangerous conditions and to protect their guests from those conditions. Thus, not warning tenants, guests, or vacation renters (including Airbnb guests) about known panther activity and risks could potentially have very costly implications should an injury occur. Just like our unsecured trash can attract bears, unprotected animals like goats or chickens and even domestic cats in a neighborhood can attract more panthers.
A homeowners’ association (HOA) can have a similar liability as to properties under its control. Without appropriate education or policies, HOAs could be held liable for a wildlife attack on a person or possibly an animal. And if the HOA liability insurance policy has exclusions from coverage or caps on claims for wildlife attacks, homeowners can be responsible for making up the difference. That means a lawsuit could result in special assessments being levied on residents by the HOA to cover the additional costs – similar to those levied to pay for extensive hurricane recovery. An HOA and its property management company reached a $5 million settlement in a 2018 court case involving a severe injury caused by native wildlife. Residents not being sufficiently warned about specific risks posed by wildlife on HOA property was a key factor in the decision.
In general, property owners can be held liable for not using reasonable care to discover dangerous conditions and to protect their guests from those conditions. Thus, not warning tenants, guests, or vacation renters (including Airbnb guests) about known panther activity and risks could potentially have very costly implications should an injury occur. Just like our unsecured trash can attract bears, unprotected animals like goats or chickens and even domestic cats in a neighborhood can attract more panthers.
A homeowners’ association (HOA) can have a similar liability as to properties under its control. Without appropriate education or policies, HOAs could be held liable for a wildlife attack on a person or possibly an animal. And if the HOA liability insurance policy has exclusions from coverage or caps on claims for wildlife attacks, homeowners can be responsible for making up the difference. That means a lawsuit could result in special assessments being levied on residents by the HOA to cover the additional costs – similar to those levied to pay for extensive hurricane recovery. An HOA and its property management company reached a $5 million settlement in a 2018 court case involving a severe injury caused by native wildlife. Residents not being sufficiently warned about specific risks posed by wildlife on HOA property was a key factor in the decision.
Educate Yourself and Your Community
Given that pets and backyard livestock and calves have been injured and killed by panthers in Florida, it may be a good time to review policies for your HOA, business, or school and put educational programs and practices in place for both public safety and the wellbeing of panthers and other wildlife – as well as the fiscal bottom line.
If you feel threatened by a panther, or have lost pets or livestock to a panther, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC and *FWC on a cell phone or report it online. The FWC investigates reports of panther depredations and provides technical assistance to prevent future conflicts.
Given that pets and backyard livestock and calves have been injured and killed by panthers in Florida, it may be a good time to review policies for your HOA, business, or school and put educational programs and practices in place for both public safety and the wellbeing of panthers and other wildlife – as well as the fiscal bottom line.
If you feel threatened by a panther, or have lost pets or livestock to a panther, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC and *FWC on a cell phone or report it online. The FWC investigates reports of panther depredations and provides technical assistance to prevent future conflicts.
Bears and Panthers
The resources below were developed to help HOAs and homeowners to live safely with bears. Many of these same principles can be applied to other wildlife like panthers.
The resources below were developed to help HOAs and homeowners to live safely with bears. Many of these same principles can be applied to other wildlife like panthers.
FLORIDA BAR JOURNAL ARTICLE:
Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My! Owner and HOA Liability for Wild Animal Attacks |
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POWERPOINT: DOWNLOAD
This resource was created for bears, but principles involving liability can be applied. Reference FWC's Living with Panthers information for specific actions for panthers. |
3. Advocating for Open Spaces
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Helping Wildlife
and The Next Generation Programs to help panthers can also help rural landowners keep their properties intact. When land provides home to endangered species or offers significant ecosystem services like clean water that benefit all of us, landowners can enter into a voluntary legal arrangement with a land trust or government agency often called a conservation easement. This permanently limits how the land can be used, thus protecting its conservation value. Landowners receive compensation for giving up the right to develop the land, but can still live on the land and use it according the agreement they set up. Conservation easements insure the ranching and agricultural community isn't forced into unwanted choices to abandon their traditions because of market pressures on their land, especially when it's inherited. David "Lefty" Durando featured in the video co-founded the Florida Conservation Group to aid landowners and garner support for these programs. These can be huge win-wins, but require funding. Contacting officials to insure these programs are well-funded can be crucial to panther conservation and the overall well-being of Florida. Partners for Conservation is another resource for landowners to understand how to work with many partners to collaborate on conservation projects to sustain working landscapes. |
Photo: Carlton Ward, Jr.
Photo: Carlton Ward, Jr.
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A graphic by the Florida panthers at Naples Zoo to educate guests about the role ranches play in panther conservation.
Managing Invasive Plants To Help Ranchers and Panthers
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The US Fish and Wildlife Service offers technical and financial assistance programs to create improved habitat that can benefit both landowners and wildlife. For example, Brazilian peppertree is an invasive species that overtakes edge habitats and clogs midstory openings where cattle, deer, and panthers can move.
At the same time, it reduces ground cover growth which provides food for cattle and deer. These assistance programs help reverse this by working with owners to remove the Brazilian peppertree and implement maintenance efforts like mowing, chopping, or burning. The good news is that some landowners who do this report seeing an increase in deer numbers. Increased natural prey is good for the panther and ranchers, as it may also decrease calf depredation. There is also a Landowner Assistance Program offered by the state.
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4. Helping Around the House
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Vaccinate Your House Cat
and Keep It Indoors As the population of people and panthers grows, panthers are more likely to encounter a house cat. This can be fatal to both cats. Domestic cats face numerous dangers outdoors including bobcats, panthers, dogs, coyotes, hawks, eagles, alligators, cars, and disease. The latter is how domesticated cats can kill panthers -- by infecting them with Feline leukemia (FeLV). While house cats can live several years with this disease, FeLV often kills panthers within a few months. |
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Since 2002, eleven panthers have been diagnosed. (The total number of infected panthers is unknown since only a few are still collared and monitored.) While only 2 to 3% of indoor cats get FeLV, a much higher percent of outdoor cats contract this incurable disease. In general, indoor cats live longer and are required by law in some counties (like Collier County) to be confined to the owner's property. To protect your pet and panthers, owners should keep their pets vaccinated and living safely indoors.
Photo: Piepie Modified by:GeeAlice, CC-BY-SA-3.0
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Avoid Accidental Attractants
Some people love seeing deer and other wildlife around their homes and set out food for them. But predators follow the prey, so feeding wildlife like deer can lure panthers into neighborhoods. The same applies for leaving uneaten pet food outside or having unsecured garbage that brings in other prey species - as well as predators like bears. Improperly maintained bird feeders (or using inexpensive seed mixtures that generate excessive ground waste) can attract bears as well as contribute to spreading disease among birds. Intentional and unintentional feeding of wildlife is illegal for many species in Florida because of the harm to wildlife and people. To truly help birds, see these bird feeding tips. |
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Protect Pets and Hobby Livestock
Outdoor pets as well as livestock like goats, chickens, sheep, and hogs can attract panthers, bobcats, feral dogs, coyotes, and other predators looking for an easy meal. You can help your animals by bringing pets inside and securing hobby livestock in fully enclosed structures, especially at night. To defray the costs of a predator-resistant enclosure, owners needing financial assistance can apply to the Pen Building Assistance Program offered by The Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Different levels of funding are available depending on confirmed panther activity. |
Photo: Conservancy of Southwest Florida
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Lift the Landscape
In the same way we have lights and avoid tall hedges around the doors at our homes to discourage burglars, removing dense and low-lying vegetation takes away the cover that makes predators feel comfortable spending time near our homes. Outdoor lighting and motion sensors including ones that trigger sprays of water can help deter a variety of unwanted visitors. When landscaping, choose plants that do not attract deer or other panther prey. If you have a garden, plant it away from your home and fence or otherwise protect your harvest. |
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Create Your Custom Solution
You don't need to manage large landscapes or be a biologist to help panthers. Other resources you have could be beneficial. Your business could offer conference room space for working group meetings. A printing business could donate services to produce panther posters or brochures. Designers can assist with everything from magnets to websites that help people understand how to best live with panthers. Of course, funding is always needed. Riptide Brewing Company created custom brews named in honor of the panthers at Naples Zoo. $2 from each pint sold is dedicated to panther conservation. Riptide and Zoo staff cooperate to host fun "Brew for the Zoo" events when the ales are released. Additional funds are raised from event raffles plus sales from apparel and glasses with the logos from the custom ales. Based on this Blank Media Printing even donated Uno Ale bottle caps to sell to support conservation. (Bottle cap collector? Get an Uno Ale bottle cap.) What talents or resources do you have that can be used to help panthers? |
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The intent of this video and website are to highlight the complexity of Florida panther recovery and to give voice to the diversity of stakeholders involved and affected. Panthers are part of Florida's heritage and can play a significant role in the future of the state through ongoing protection of public lands as well as conservation easements and other programs that enable private landowners to maintain large wild spaces. This video was created through a collaboration between Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida National Parks Association, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, and the South Florida National Parks Trust. The website is an effort of the Naples Zoo.
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This website and its contents are funded and maintained by the Naples Zoo Conservation Fund Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens | 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road | Naples FL 34102 | 239.262.5409 | email | website |