The Florida panther remains one of the rarest apex predators in North America, surviving almost entirely within the natural systems of Southwest Florida. Naples and Collier County sit inside the last stronghold of this species, where protected corridors connect Big Cypress National Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, Picayune Strand State Forest, and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. These landscapes create a continuous network of wetlands, flatwoods, cypress strands, and hardwood hammocks that allo

WOW: A deputy in Collier County, Florida had a close call with a Florida panther! As of 2017, the endangered species had an estimated population of 120 to 230. | Gray Media Digital Content Center

What a beautiful Florida Panther!! The Florida Panther is protected as an Endangered species by the Federal Endangered Species Act and as a Federally designated Endangered species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. The home range of a male panther is about 200 square miles, female panther is about 75 square miles. Adult males can reach a length of seven feet with a shoulder height between 24-28 inches and average weight of about 115 pounds. . . . . #savetheglades #floridapanthe