Challenges of Florida Panther Conservation. Presented by: Darrell Land, Florida Panther Team Leader

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1 Challenges of Florida Panther Conservation Presented by: Darrell Land, Florida Panther Team Leader

2 Panthers are Florida s largest cat and adults range in size from 60 to > 160 pounds

3 Florida Panthers have been on the Endangered Species List since 1967 Former distribution of Puma subspecies in North America Former and current range of FL panthers

4 Most panthers are found south of Lake Okeechobee No females have been confirmed north of Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River since the 1970 s Female locations Male locations Deaths N of Caloosahatchee River

5 UCFP123 shot 11/16/2008 Panthers have been documented in 3 of 5 FWC regions plus in Georgia since 1973 Panther telemetry locations * Mortalities north of the Caloosahatchee River Verified sightings submitted to website

6 Florida Panther Genetic Restoration began in 1995 with the release of 8 female puma captured in Texas.

7 25 20 Roadkills Panther Minimum Count and Roadkills Genetic Restoration 1995 Year Panthers

8 Current population estimate adult panthers in southern Florida

9 2008 The goal is to achieve longterm viability of the Florida panther to a point where it can be reclassified from endangered to threatened, and then removed from the Federal List of endangered and threatened species.

10 We use computer models to determine a target population size that ensures panthers can avoid future extinction Inputs Population Viability Analyses Adult survival Kitten survival Litter size Breeding ages Sex ratio Habitat loss Heterozygosity Life expectancy Catastrophes Population size Inbreeding Assess extinction risk for panthers 240

11 A viable population, for purposes of Florida panther recovery, has been defined as one in which there is a 95% probability of persistence for 100 years Recovery Criteria Endangered to Threatened Two populations of 240 Delisting Three populations of

12 240 PVA models average population Size > 240 panthers Stable population Current population adults Population shows positive population growth panthers Somewhat stable Genetic problems panthers Decline over time 0 Low 50 or fewer panthers Heading towards extinction Extinction Risk High

13 panthers Potential panther habitat patches north of the Caloosahatchee River

14 2006 Identifying Suitable Sites for Florida Panther Reintroduction Potential panther habitat CINDY A. THATCHER, University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA FRANK T. VAN MANEN,1 United States Geological Survey, Southern Appalachian Research Branch, University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA JOSEPH D. CLARK, Untied States Geological Survey, Southern Appalachian Research Branch, University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

15 Well, a funny thing happened on the road to recovery

16 As panther numbers increased, so did social acceptance issues

17 More people and more panthers will lead to more opportunities for human/panther interactions.

18 Some Emerging Social Acceptance Issues Depredations on pets, hobby livestock Depredations on commercial cow/calf ranching operations Will panther presence impact my land use plans?

19 Panthers are predators

20 And people do get upset Local TV crew Calling for reinforcements Pitch fork Aggressive body language postures

21 Confirmed Human Panther Interactions FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY Depredations Encounters Incidents Threat

22 Florida Panther Response Plan An interagency plan for dealing with human panther interactions and conflicts to promote public safety while assuring the conservation of the panther.

23 Education and Outreach are critical components of the Florida Panther Response Plan

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25 Second Annual Florida Panther Festival 2013 Over 1000 people visited the Festival each year

26 A single, viable panther population needs millions of acres of quality habitat and this will be a combination of public and private ownerships Investigate how and why different types of landowners respond to different panther habitat conservation incentives. Provide insights into which incentives (financial incentives, regulatory relief and/or technical assistance) landowners prefer, and the potential costs of implementing these incentives.

27 Strategies for dealing with social issues will be critical for a successful panther population expansion or reestablishment

28 Current level of social acceptance of Florida panthers has evolved over the past 40 years Local, State and Federal government Private landowners/ranchers Developers Urban and rural residents Hunters/Outdoor enthusiasts Conservation organizations Florida panther recovery will require establishing new populations beyond the current range. We will be starting from square one with respect to social acceptance!

29 Panther Conservation Model Maintain social acceptance Large tracts of contiguous habitat Economic incentives for protecting habitat Effective strategies for offsetting livestock losses