When residents of a Florida nation membership group stepped out of their properties, they seen a fluffy ball tucked behind a shrub by a stairwell.
Taking a more in-depth look through some binoculars, they noticed what regarded like a cat — however a lot greater.
The residents of Bonita Nationwide Nation Membership known as the Lee County Sheriff’s Workplace, in keeping with a Dec. 4 information launch from the division.
Deputies confirmed what the residents suspected: An endangered Florida panther was snoozing within the shrubbery, a uncommon sighting.
“After confirming it was in truth a panther, we notified … Florida Fish and Wildlife to help,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
Wildlife officers arrived and tranquilized the panther so it may very well be safely relocated, an FWC spokesperson advised McClatchy Information in an e-mail.
Biologists stated the 1.5-year-old feminine cat was about 60 kilos, and so they collared the animal so it may be tracked sooner or later, the FWC stated.
“Encounters with Florida panthers are comparatively uncommon however do happen, notably in locations linked to rural areas of southwest Florida,” the FWC stated.
Florida panthers are sometimes discovered south of Orlando, FWC says on its web site, and may weigh wherever between 60 and 160 kilos.
The species is endangered, because the Nationwide Wildlife Basis estimates there are only 200 panthers left within the wild.
The feminine panther was safely transported to Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed Wildlife and Environmental Space and launched, wildlife officers stated.
“When you stay, work or recreate in panther habitat, there are issues you are able to do to boost your security and that of your folks, household and animals,” the FWC stated.
When you see a panther:
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Maintain younger youngsters shut by and within reach
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“Most Florida panthers will keep away from a confrontation,” FWC stated, so it’s best to give the animal area
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Identical to in case you see a Florida black bear, you shouldn’t run from the panther. As a substitute, stand going through the animal and make direct eye contact.
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Don’t attempt to look small like a prey animal. Don’t bend over or crouch.
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Open your jacket, put your fingers up and make your self seem bigger whereas throwing stones or branches with out turning away.
“Merely seeing a panther in your neighborhood shouldn’t be essentially a trigger for alarm,” the FWC stated. “Nevertheless, FWC biologists are concerned about your sighting of a panther or its tracks.”
You may report a panther sighting and ship pictures to Report Florida Panther Sightings.
Bonita Nationwide Nation Membership is in southwest Florida, about 100 miles northwest of Miami.
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