Speaking of Florida Panthers…
When I was down in the Fakahatchee Strand in March of 2017, I spent the day doing a wildlife count with Ranger Mike. We started at a water level pan, where Mike assesses water levels (crucial information in a slough / wetland). Then we wrote down descriptions of any birds or animals that we saw or clearly heard. We repeated this routine at various spots along Janes Scenic Drive.
Janes Scenic Drive is a dirt road that runs the length of the park. There are all kinds of rustic hiking trails spinning off either side of it. Make sure that you've had your car alignment checked recently- or the potholes on Janes might just adjust your back. It's free anyway.
Back to the point of the story. Mike and I identified all kinds of wildlife on this ONE day. We saw several large alligators (including a female with young), a Red-shouldered Hawk, egrets, Snowy Egrets, a huge Great Blue Heron, a Barred Owl, a Cottonmouth snake, and an osprey. I think I'm still missing a few.
We ended our survey and remained seated in the truck. I had my camera in my lap, lens leaning against the dashboard. I glanced over at Mike's notebook as he quickly jotted down the animals identified, locations spotted, and related notes. Mike talked as he wrote,
"Well Ted, this was a pretty darn good day. We even saw an osprey, you don't see those guys everyday..."
It was at that moment that I felt something being aware of me.
I looked up- and there he was, smack dab in the middle of Janes Scenic Drive. Those unmistakably "cat" cat shoulders. The long, tawny brown body, tail flowing behind him. Cool and casual, the panther paused his walk to regard us.
"Mike, Mike!--- (excited whisper)-- Panther!"
I said this without taking my eyes off of the cat. I moved my lens along the dashboard and...
he was gone.
"Did you get a picture Ted? Well anyway- I did see him too! Wow. We'll mark that down in the daily journal. Adult male panther, probably 6.5-7' long tip to tail, I'd estimate. Looked like he's pretty healthy too, must be appreciating our deer population..."
And if I didn't fully have the "Fakahabit," before that point, I've certainly had it ever since.
As I missed the shot...
I'll include a Florida Panther image from Everglades' photographer and camera trap expert, Jay Staton