Panther Habitat Use in Southern Florida

Abstract

We captured 6 Florida panthers (Felis concolor coryi) in southern Florida and radiolocated them 1,630 times from February 1981 through August 1983. Mean home area for 4 males and 2 females was 435 ? 231 (SE) km2 and 202 ? 141 km2, respectively. Mixed swamp forests and hammock forests were used more than expected based on the availability of these habitats within the panthers' home areas. Based on the availability of mixed swamp forests and hammock forests, we estimate that south Florida can support 30-40 panthers. The major factor limiting the panther population in south Florida appears to be availability of suitable habitat. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 52(4):660-663 In October 1976 the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) initiated a study of the Florida panther to determine if a viable population of panthers remained in Florida. At least 1 population was located in the Fakahatchee Strand-Big Cypress Swamp-Everglades National Park region of southern Florida (Belden 1978). Our objective was to identify habitat necessary for the continued survival of the population of panthers in southern Florida. We acknowledge T. H. Logan and T. C. Hines for constructive criticism, guidance, and support. We also appreciate O. L. Bass, D. K. Jansen, J. McGrady, D. B. Pylant, J. G. Quinn, and J. S. Sanders for assistance with field work; G. L. Evink, W. H. Kuyper, J. Becker, R. Whitehead, R. D. Hallman, E. G. Phillips, J. D. Edrington III, and C. E. Gardner of the Florida Department of Transportation for habitat mapping and analyses; and G. Hensler, C. Moore, This content downloaded from 157.55.39.35 on Thu, 01 Sep 2016 04:39:07 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms J. Wildl. Manage. 52(4):1988 PANTHER HABITAT * Belden et al. 661 and G. R. Morgan for statistical assistance. Primary funding was provided by the GFC and by federal grant-in-aid funds administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (PL No. 93-205).