15 Florida Panthers Killed!

"It does a great job of explaining the problem in a short time."
-Matthew Schwartz
Florida Sierra Everglades Committee

I find it strange that the state animal of Florida is being driven to extinction by the state picking development and the quick money it brings over its own wildlife. (Wildlife does bring in money over a longer period of time, as that is why so many come down here. or is it?) Even though their numbers are slightly higher than reported in the 1980's after decades of over hunting there are more killed on the roads than ever before.
2006: 11 panthers killed by vehicles.
2007: (The year of this report) 15 were killed.(You will hear me say 14 twice in the video as in the time it took from filming to posting another cat was killed)
2008: 10 killed by vehicles, 21 found dead total.
2009: 17 killed by vehicles! 24 found dead total.
2010: 12 killed by vehicles, 17 found dead total.
(Recent Population approx 110 wild panthers alive)

What will be the future of predators here in America?
I often look to other countries and wonder why they can't protect their wildlife, and often forget about the poor job we do at it ourselves. The police trying to ticket speeders and the few protected fenced roadways can only do so much. It is up to us to decide if we really will change the way we use up land and resources to allow room for these beautiful predators.
Thanks for watching.
For more info on the Panther (cougar/ mountain lion etc...) go to:
http://www.floridapanther.org
http://www.floridapantherprotection.com
http://www.defenders.org
http://myfwc.com/panther

*Special thanks to those that appeared in this video and those who helped me collect panther data.

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[davewillard111]

Does florida have designated wilderness areas? I live in Idaho and we have millions of acres of roadless wilderness. (no motorized vehicles at all, or even chainsaws)Some one down there needs to get some land set aside for nature. Out west we do hunt the cougar, but I would hate to see them vanish. I'm a hunter, and I think you're doing a great thing. Keep it up. p.s. Are the black panthers just a color phase of the cougar, or a seperate species?

[briczar22]

@davewillard111 Not sure if any black cougars have ever been spotted. The "black panther" is actually just black leopards. (they are found in africa and asia)

Florida does have land like the Everglades put aside, but it seems to be not enough habitat for a good population of a roaming cat like a panther. Thanks for watching!

[FallingandRunning]

I don't understand why people like Florida. Hurricanes, swamps, crocs, boas, poisonous snakes, hogs, nile monitors, giant rats. I mean the list goes on and on.

[briczar22]

@FallingandRunning ..yup, not sure. No state tax might be a big draw. After 8 years in Florida, I was happy to get out.

[213775052]

im 9 and my class is doing a project endangered animals and i chose florida cougar/panther and i love animals so i will hate al FL. panther killers ...... by the way can some of u guys give me some infermation on this animal i really need to know how they got endangered and why

[briczar22]

If you look at the videos description there are some great panther web sites listed. Good luck on your report!

[sgz500]

how sad =(

in british colombia they have under passes for grizzly and they manage well

[niekdegriek]

Would be nice to buy a big piece of south florida in order to give some habitat back to the Florida panther in order to preserve them for the future.

[moviesforrandy]

@WTFp0s i wish we could.

[moviesforrandy]

i heard the other day that there have been 22 panthers killed in 2011. SO SAD. i think i seen a panther the other night south of fargo georgia on highway 94 just 2 miles south of the ga-fl line. i was not sure the color of the animal was there but the animal looked to be about 3 years old i am guessing. but the animal did not look long like a fl. panther. so i am not 100% sure.

[azalias114]

Thank you for this video. Humans are such selfish ignorant things.

[azalias114]

@lebubba it's not your woods only, all species have a right to live and where else do you expect them to be put? Thats their natural habitat. Obviously we as humans have over-populated the world which definitely is the reason why your seeing cougars, bears and bobcats in your area compared to when you were a child. They have barely anywhere to live.

[WTFp0s]

Teach it not to run in the road?

[LeBubba]

Im not crazy about predatory animals threatening my family. I have a bear problem, a bobcat problem and a cougar problem. The state is re-introducing them in my area covertly. If they are to do this, it should be done with the permission of local officials, not secretly by the state and feds. Local families should get warned about dropping off cougars in the hood. Bears too. I liked it better when I was a kid and could explore the woods un armed and care free. Only snakes and ticks.

[lovemyredpoodle]

when you say in your opinion, The fox story was Fact. Just like the 30 something year old school teacher, researcher that was killed on the edge of her yard and partly eaten by 3 wolves. Now what I cannot see is like in California they locate pairs of mountain lions near subdivisions where people live and jogging trails.I was looking at pictures recently where a young jogger was killed and another went to his aid and was also killed. Money that could have been spent with more common sense

[lovemyredpoodle]

@chocahalic123 Yes I agree. The foxes that were exterminated were carrying rabies and they had an epidemic with it being transferred to dogs, cattle, and humans. It was such a serious epidemic the only way for humans to survive there was to exterminate the foxes. Today they could have probably given them some bait with the vaccination in it. That happened about 50 years ago. I have 9 red poodles I dearly love and three cats. I have had all of them from birth and not hoarding or rescuing.

[chocahalic123]

@lovemyredpoodle dude....foxes havent killed anybody.in my opinion,humans are probably the most destructive species on the planet,they destroy trees,destroy entire populations of animals,they kill each other for stupid reasons,they pollute the air and water,they abuse our resources,they have stupid opinions and make stupid comments on youtube,most dislike the animals that share this beatiful world with them,animals deserve to live just as much as humans.----from a panther in florida dumbass