I have been hiking and taking pictures in Big Cypress and Everglades national park for over 15 years. I have seen plenty of Panther tracks but no panthers. I have been in the woods at 5am and just before sunset but still no Panther.
I know that a male panther can have a territory of 100+ Square Miles and females can have a territory of 80+ square miles. Couple that with the fact that panthers are solitary animals and well, this task becomes almost impossible. (Key word being almost).
Panthers do not live in trees. They sleep on the ground in some favorite shaded place in the woods. I need help identifying where one of these favorite shaded places for a panther might be either in Big Cypress or Everglades National Park, so I can set up for the shot of my life. Does anyone have any idea? Coordinates? Directions?
I have actually hiked Long Pine Key which is just south of those coordinates and I have also hiked the paved trail just 1 mile south west of those coordinates. So I know exactly where this cat is!
So tell me, about your encounter. Was it more than once? Did you catch him sleeping or roaming?
I am already rounding up some friends who I hike with and we are heading down there this Sunday. If I get any shots, I will be sure to psot them and tell you all about it.
Nahhh, I'm just messin with ya, Santi. When you asked for coordinates and directions, I couldn't resist.
I will be doing some photography down in Florida this winter, making several trips. If you run across a panther, I'll be more than happy to drop everything and drive down from South Carolina to photograph it with you.
Well......You might have been messing with me, but those coordinate were just confirmed as a well known spot for panther sighting. In fact, it's one of the few areas in Florida with street signs that read Caution Panther Crossing.
So I guess I am just going to have to ask you for additional coordinates in the near future, because this was a real lucky guess.
If I get a shot, I will post it.
Santi
Posted by Drew Fulton on November 27, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Santi,
I lived in Flamingo for 6 months while working on a project during the first half of 2005. Closest I got to a panther was in a plane with some of the biologists circling a hammock where a radio tagged panther was apparently sleeping. The hammock was on Long Pine Key somewhere so give it a shot. If I remember correctly, it is just south of the housing complex for rangers. That was over 2 years ago and they are rather nomadic across their large ranges so good luck. I walked in there that afternoon and didn't have any luck.
I have also heard reports of panther sightings along Loop Road in BCNP. I drove the road many many times at dusk and early evening and the closest I ever got was a Bobcat. As far as I know, there are very few images of wild panthers. The only one that comes to mind is one of a panther wading through belly deep water and was taken right at dusk. At least thats the one that the NPS puts out all the time.
Good luck and if you come across anything I'd love to see it.
> Well......You might have been messing with me, but those coordinate were just confirmed as a well known spot for panther sighting. In fact, it's one of the few areas in Florida with street signs that read Caution Panther Crossing.
I will be there this Sunday. I have shots of Long Pine Key from Google earth. I am trying to determine the most likely area to spot this panther. I have a group of 3 - 4 guys going with me, so we can cover more land. I am hoping to get lucky.
Posted by Drew Fulton on November 28, 2007 at 12:10 AM
Santi,
Good luck. I think of the hardest parts of finding one is not scaring it off. It's a cat so its going to have excellent sight, smell, and hearing. Hopefully you can find one that is seriously sound asleep so you don't give it too much warning. I think its sort of like finding a needle in a haystack except this time the needle swims. All in all its pretty tough considering the population is so low and the area they live is relatively difficult to access. Good luck.
Oh, I may be around in January or March, I'll join you for a walk if you are still looking.
Discussion
9 repliesI know that a male panther can have a territory of 100+ Square Miles and females can have a territory of 80+ square miles. Couple that with the fact that panthers are solitary animals and well, this task becomes almost impossible. (Key word being almost).
Panthers do not live in trees. They sleep on the ground in some favorite shaded place in the woods. I need help identifying where one of these favorite shaded places for a panther might be either in Big Cypress or Everglades National Park, so I can set up for the shot of my life. Does anyone have any idea? Coordinates? Directions?
Please let me know,
Santiago Cuellar
80°45'51.54"W
His name is Happy. You can thank me later.
I have actually hiked Long Pine Key which is just south of those coordinates and I have also hiked the paved trail just 1 mile south west of those coordinates. So I know exactly where this cat is!
So tell me, about your encounter. Was it more than once? Did you catch him sleeping or roaming?
I am already rounding up some friends who I hike with and we are heading down there this Sunday. If I get any shots, I will be sure to psot them and tell you all about it.
Santiago
I will be doing some photography down in Florida this winter, making several trips. If you run across a panther, I'll be more than happy to drop everything and drive down from South Carolina to photograph it with you.
Good luck!
So I guess I am just going to have to ask you for additional coordinates in the near future, because this was a real lucky guess.
If I get a shot, I will post it.
Santi
I lived in Flamingo for 6 months while working on a project during the first half of 2005. Closest I got to a panther was in a plane with some of the biologists circling a hammock where a radio tagged panther was apparently sleeping. The hammock was on Long Pine Key somewhere so give it a shot. If I remember correctly, it is just south of the housing complex for rangers. That was over 2 years ago and they are rather nomadic across their large ranges so good luck. I walked in there that afternoon and didn't have any luck.
I have also heard reports of panther sightings along Loop Road in BCNP. I drove the road many many times at dusk and early evening and the closest I ever got was a Bobcat. As far as I know, there are very few images of wild panthers. The only one that comes to mind is one of a panther wading through belly deep water and was taken right at dusk. At least thats the one that the NPS puts out all the time.
Good luck and if you come across anything I'd love to see it.
Drew
Aww, just a lucky guess on my part
I will be there this Sunday. I have shots of Long Pine Key from Google earth. I am trying to determine the most likely area to spot this panther. I have a group of 3 - 4 guys going with me, so we can cover more land. I am hoping to get lucky.
Good luck. I think of the hardest parts of finding one is not scaring it off. It's a cat so its going to have excellent sight, smell, and hearing. Hopefully you can find one that is seriously sound asleep so you don't give it too much warning. I think its sort of like finding a needle in a haystack except this time the needle swims. All in all its pretty tough considering the population is so low and the area they live is relatively difficult to access. Good luck.
Oh, I may be around in January or March, I'll join you for a walk if you are still looking.
Drew