Endangered Florida panthers are struggling to walk, and wildlife officials don't know why

Happy Monday from the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge! As water levels start dropping during the dry season here in south Florida, panthers and other wildlife begin exploring and hunting more in areas that were previously deeply flooded. Here's a video from our famous mama panther, "Broketail," taking her 2023 kittens deep within Fakahatchee Strand on the refuge. If you listen, you can hear some of their vocalizations. Broketail was born on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge d

Happy #Caturday from the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge! Check out this awesome video of a young male panther traversing a breech in an old logging tram in the middle of Fakahatchee Strand on the refuge! We call this location Fred's Hole, because this is the primary pond apple slough that is defended by one of the largest alligators that we have ever seen on the refuge. We nicknamed this huge gator "Fred." Can't help but wonder if this male panther might be the 2023 male offspring of o

Florida panther sightings are among the rarest wildlife moments in the United States, and Southwest Florida is the only place where encounters like this still happen. The Florida panther is an endangered subspecies with an estimated population of roughly 120 to 230, most living in Collier County and the surrounding preserves. These cats move through quiet corridors of wetlands, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks, often traveling at night when the landscape is cooler and more active. Backyard

Florida panther encounters are some of the rarest wildlife moments in the United States, and Southwest Florida is the only region where scenes like this still take place. The Florida panther is an endangered subspecies with a population estimated between 120 and 230, most living in Collier County and the protected wilderness surrounding Naples. These cats are nocturnal by nature, moving silently through wetlands, forest edges, and open corridors after sunset. Their ability to cross a lawn withou

You cannot prepare for moments like this. A quiet night by the pool turns into a rare encounter with one of Southwest Florida’s most elusive animals. The Florida panther moves with a calm confidence that belongs to an apex predator, yet its behavior tells a different story. It pauses, studies the scene, and steps onto the lounge chair with a level of trust that feels almost ancient. The stillness of the night camera captures every detail. The soft padding of paws. The measured breath of a wild a

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Conservation groups launch lawsuit to protect Florida Panther habitat from 10,000-acre development