A sneak peak

Just had an incredible encounter with a Florida panther! Here's a sneak peak (if you will..) of some of the footage I captured from this rare and humbling experience. The endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is one of nearly two dozen subspecies of puma (also commonly referred to as mountain lions, cougars, and catamounts) ranging throughout the Americas. Although the Florida panther once roamed across the eastern coast of the United States, it is now confined to only small fragments of southern Florida. Despite nearly going extinct in the 90's, today, the population has grown to an estimated 100-160 individuals. But it's an uphill battle - 17 panthers have already been killed in 2014 alone by motor vehicles...roughly 10-15% of the remaining population. One of the most difficult aspects of big cat conservation is ensuring that there is enough suitable and contiguous habitat to sustain a viable population. In addition to having numerous state and national parks established throughout south Florida, the US Fish & Wildlife Service is (as of today) proposing a payment plan for ranchers who will maintain habitat that is favorable for panthers: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-usa-florida-panther-20140705,0,635914.story I captured this shot tonight while working in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, adjacent to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. I'll post more photos, videos, and stories in the coming days. For more info on the Florida panther: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/florida_panther/wah/panther.html