Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

22 FLORIDA STATUS REPORT · Lotz and Land
areas and regularly surveyed by ATV.
Over 400 km of trail were surveyed with
scats encountered every 45 km on
average. Additionally, scats were
collected opportunistically during other
field activities. Results are currently still
being analyzed but microsatellite
amplification of Florida panther DNA
was successfully extracted in 60% of the
samples. Although collecting panther
scat is labor intensive, utilizing DNA
extracted from Florida panther scat holds
promise as an unobtrusive technique to
monitor the genetic health and individual
makeup of the population. A final report
will be completed later this year.
Panther Peripheral Area Survey
The only verified breeding population of
Florida panthers is in the southern
portion of the state, south of the
Caloosahatchee River and Lake
Okeechobee, in the Big Cypress and
Everglades physiographic regions. This
population has been growing since the
mid 1990’s and so far 3 radio-collared
panthers have crossed the river.
Additionally, three uncollared panthers
have been verified north of the river in
recent years: two by tracks and/or
photos, the other was road-killed. All of
these have been males that dispersed
from the core population. Only three are
presumed to still be alive. Since resident
male panthers typically encompass
several females within their territory it is
hypothesized that searching these ranges
will afford the best opportunity of
finding other panthers if they exist. This
5-year study to determine the occurrence
and status of panthers on peripheral
areas of their presently known range has
entered its final year. Systematic sign
surveys have been conducted in areas
where two male panthers had established
territories. No sign of other panthers
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH MOUNTAIN LION WORKSHOP
was found. A final report is scheduled
for 2003.
Effect of Genetic Introgression on
Prevalence and Intensity of
Gastrointestinal Helminth Infections in
Florida Panthers
The effects of genetic restoration of the
Florida panther are being examined on
many fronts. Complementing other
projects, this study will indirectly assess
the suspected improvement in immune
function in intergrades by comparing
gastrointestinal tract parasite burdens to
that seen in original Florida panthers.
Concurrently we will assess the efficacy
of field anthelmintic treatment of
panthers. Before introgression,
gastrointestinal parasite burdens were
assessed in 11original Florida panthers.
Gastrointestinal tracts from a minimum
of 7 panthers descended from Texas
puma will be assessed by 2005 at which
time a final report will be prepared.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
CUNNINGHAM, M.W., M.R. DUNBAR, C.D.
BUERGELT, B. HOMER, M. ROELKE-
PARKER, S.K. TAYLOR, R. KING, S.B.
CITINO, AND C. GLASS. 1999. Atrial
septal defects in the Florida panther.
Journal of Wildlife Diseases 35(3): 519-
530.
DEES, C.S., J.D. CLARK, AND F.T. VAN
MANEN. 2001. Florida panther habitat
use in response to prescribed fire.
Journal of Wildlife Management 65:141-
147.
DUNBAR, M.R., M.W. CUNNINGHAM, AND
S.T. LINDA. 1999. Vitamin A
Concentrations in Serum and Liver from
Florida Panthers. Journal of Wildlife
Diseases 35(2): 171-177.
JANIS, M.W. AND J.D. CLARK. 2002.
Response of Florida panthers to
recreational deer and hog hunting.