.jpg)
Courtesy: Kennan Ward Photography
The Care2 PetitionSite is asking viewers to sign a petition regarding the Florida panthers’ habitat. The petition target is Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and it is sponsored by the Sierra Club. No protected habitat exists for the Florida panther, the only big cat east of the Mississippi. And fewer than 100 individual panthers remain, making the Florida Panther one of America's most endangered species.
Scientists conclude that the panther's existing habitat is the bare minimum needed for the remaining population to survive. Five panthers have already been killed on south Florida highways this year, with an additional 24 panthers killed by vehicles in the preceding two years. The Interior Department has the ability under the Endangered Species Act to protect the remaining habitat now. Urge Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to designate critical habitat for the Florida panther today!
According to Defenders of Wildlife Save, the Florida panther, Florida’s state animal, is one of 30 Puma concolor subspecies known by many names – puma, cougar, mountain lion, painter, catamount and panther. The Florida panther is tawny brown on the back and pale gray underneath, The breeding population is found only in the southern tip of Florida, south of the Caloosahatchee River. In recent years, young male panthers have traveled as far as northeast Florida. Females do not roam as widely.
Panthers are habitat generalists, meaning that they use a variety of habitat types, including forests, prairies and swamps. As panthers roam throughout their territory to find food or mates, they must navigate through a deadly network of interstate, state and county roads with varying speed limits and levels of enforcement. With fewer than 100 panthers left, every life counts.
For more information: www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/478858019 www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/panther.php
Comments