(WBBH) A rare Florida panther was found sleeping next to a stairwell at Bonita Springs National Golf and Country Club on Monday morning.The panther was feet away from someone’s doorstep.Around 9:45 a.m., Bonita Springs Community Policing Deputies received reports of a panther sighting.A resident in the neighborhood said he was taking a walk on Cherrywood Court when he saw the panther sleeping in the bushes so he called 911 and the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC).The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) stated the 61-pound female panther was tranquilized and captured by the FWC. On Monday afternoon the 1.5-year-old female panther was evaluated and released at a nearby preserve called the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed Wildlife and Environmental Area (CREW WEA). The preserve is more than 60,000 acres.Angie and DJ Ohl said the panther was sleeping on their property. They had no idea she was next to their doorstep until they walked outside and saw what looked like a crime scene on their driveway. “All of the sudden neighbors and police started yelling for me to close the door and run back in the house!” DJ said. “It was wild, you don’t expect to find it laying right outside your door, I’m glad it was calm.”Florida panthers are considered an endangered species and according to wildlife experts, there are less than 200 Florida panthers alive. Encounters with Florida panthers are relatively rare but do occur, particularly in places connected to rural areas of Southwest Florida.If you encounter a Florida panther:Keep children within sight and close to you.Give the panther space. Most Florida panthers will avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.Do not run. Stand and face the animal. Make eye contact.Avoid crouching or bending over. Squatting or bending over makes you look smaller, resembling a prey-sized animal.Make yourself appear larger, open your jacket, raise your arms, throw stones, branches, etc. without turning away.If attacked, fight back with whatever is at hand (without turning your back).See our flyer on Panther Safety Tips. There are also things you can do to make your yard less attractive to panthers. Individual circumstances vary, but options to consider include:Construct a secure pen for pets and livestock. Electric fence about two feet high around animal pens.Motion-activated lighting (a light that is always on may help you to see what’s happening but will not deter a panther.)Clear or mow vegetation that may provide concealment for panthers.Do not feed wildlife because panthers may be attracted to areas where prey animals congregate.Simply seeing a panther in your neighborhood is not necessarily a cause for alarm. However, FWC biologists are interested in your sighting of a panther or its tracks. You can send us details of your sighting plus upload any pictures to: Report Florida Panther Sightings. Please report injured or dead panthers to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). For more information on how to safely coexist with Florida panthers, please see the brochure: A guide to living with Florida Panthers.
(WBBH) A rare Florida panther was found sleeping next to a stairwell at Bonita Springs National Golf and Country Club on Monday morning.
The panther was feet away from someone’s doorstep.
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Around 9:45 a.m., Bonita Springs Community Policing Deputies received reports of a panther sighting.
A resident in the neighborhood said he was taking a walk on Cherrywood Court when he saw the panther sleeping in the bushes so he called 911 and the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC).
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) stated the 61-pound female panther was tranquilized and captured by the FWC.
On Monday afternoon the 1.5-year-old female panther was evaluated and released at a nearby preserve called the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed Wildlife and Environmental Area (CREW WEA). The preserve is more than 60,000 acres.
Angie and DJ Ohl said the panther was sleeping on their property. They had no idea she was next to their doorstep until they walked outside and saw what looked like a crime scene on their driveway.
“All of the sudden neighbors and police started yelling for me to close the door and run back in the house!” DJ said. “It was wild, you don’t expect to find it laying right outside your door, I’m glad it was calm.”
Florida panthers are considered an endangered species and according to wildlife experts, there are less than 200 Florida panthers alive.
Encounters with Florida panthers are relatively rare but do occur, particularly in places connected to rural areas of Southwest Florida.
If you encounter a Florida panther:
- Keep children within sight and close to you.
- Give the panther space. Most Florida panthers will avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Do not run. Stand and face the animal. Make eye contact.
- Avoid crouching or bending over. Squatting or bending over makes you look smaller, resembling a prey-sized animal.
- Make yourself appear larger, open your jacket, raise your arms, throw stones, branches, etc. without turning away.
- If attacked, fight back with whatever is at hand (without turning your back).
- See our flyer on Panther Safety Tips.
There are also things you can do to make your yard less attractive to panthers. Individual circumstances vary, but options to consider include:
- Construct a secure pen for pets and livestock.
- Electric fence about two feet high around animal pens.
- Motion-activated lighting (a light that is always on may help you to see what’s happening but will not deter a panther.)
- Clear or mow vegetation that may provide concealment for panthers.
- Do not feed wildlife because panthers may be attracted to areas where prey animals congregate.
Simply seeing a panther in your neighborhood is not necessarily a cause for alarm. However, FWC biologists are interested in your sighting of a panther or its tracks. You can send us details of your sighting plus upload any pictures to: Report Florida Panther Sightings. Please report injured or dead panthers to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). For more information on how to safely coexist with Florida panthers, please see the brochure: A guide to living with Florida Panthers.