Bob Mount: Panther population growing thin

Last week, I commented on the death of the large cat killed by a hunter in Georgia, stating that DNA tests identified the big cat as a Florida panther, considered an endangered species at the federal level.

I mislead my readers in my statement, “No more than about 300 of … these animals … remain in the wild.” In fact, the most recent studies estimate the population of Florida panthers to be between 100 and 120 individuals.

I also stated that according to a Georgia official, “Panthers do not appear on the state’s list of protected species …” Subsequently, I talked with John Jensen, a non-game specialist with Georgia’s Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resource Division, who informed me that the Florida panther was on the state’s list of protected species.

I also talked with Jim Gale, with the Enforcement Section of the Southeastern Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He said the incident was still under investigation, and he could not comment as to whether or not charges against the killer of the endangered panther were being considered.

Some other facts regarding the matter are as follows. The panther was shot and killed in Troup County on Nov. 16, 2008.

Florida panthers, especially young males, often wander long distances in attempting to establish their own territory. Tim Breault, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, relates, “… we have evidence of Florida panthers as far north as the Florida Panhandle.

“We think that this (a young male wandering far from its home range) may have been the case in this
situation.”

Earlier, I wrote that I had received so many reports of people claiming to have seen a panther around these parts that at least one or more must be true. One such was by Dr. Charlie Branch, a retired veterinarian who lives on Sunset Drive south of Wire Road.

About 15 years ago, Charlie vowed that he saw a panther in his back yard!

One report suggests that the animal might have been a captive-reared individual.

The idea that a Florida panther could have been acquired in Florida and held in captivity in Georgia without the knowledge of authorities defies the imagination.

The outcome of the Troup County panther killing should be of interest. The killer admits he shot it while in a tree stand, so he can’t claim he was acting in self-defense. But he did bring it to the attention of the authorities, which should be a mitigating factor if he is charged with killing an endangered species.

The panther was reportedly in good health, which is not surprising considering that white-tailed deer, panthers’ favorite prey, are overly abundant in this area.

The lazy ones can stay healthy eating opossums, raccoons and armadillos.

Bob Mount is emeritus professor of zoology and entomology at Auburn University and writes a weekly column for the Opelika-Auburn News.