Photographer Was ‘Shaking From Excitement’ After Spotting 5 Elusive Florida Panthers in a Day

epoch times ^

[E. Pluribus Unum]

(Courtesy of Ezra Van at Ezra Television)

A photographer from Miami Beach was left shaking with excitement after a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with five elusive Florida panthers, from behind the lens, in one day.

Ezra Van had been tracking wild Florida panthers, the official state animal, for years without luck.

“I poured over Fish and Wildlife research maps and reports, talked to rangers, locals, law enforcement who worked night shifts, set up alerts for panther sightings, and put 38,000 miles on my truck,” he wrote in a personal account that was shared with The Epoch Times.

Van saw a lot of other amazing wildlife, but no panthers. He was in the Everglades’ Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve Park on Jan. 13 when that changed, after he chose a parking spot a few miles along the main road based on his knowledge of footprints, trail intersections, and water levels.

Van sighted his first lone panther from this spot, around 200 meters away. Unable to capture a good photo, he waited patiently for the panther’s return, but to no avail.

Then, at sunset, as he was just leaving at the entrance, an extraordinary sight appeared: a Florida panther chasing and toying with an injured turkey vulture, followed by three additional cats.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Forgot the Epoch Times link:

https://www.theepochtimes.com/photographer-was-shaking-from-excitement-after-spotting-5-elusive-florida-panthers-in-a-day_3760720.html

[Rebelbase]

People who live in the far outlying subdivisions east of Naples see them all the time.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Pretty cool. And I know that the panther was just toying with the turkey vulture because NOTHING will eat that nasty smelling bird.

[livius]

They’re getting less “elusive” and will probably go back to being dangerous and feared before too long.

[Jamestown1630]

Nice Kitty:

[pnz1]

A few years ago we were somewhere in S FL and there were bear crossing signs? Didn’t realize till then there were bears in FL. Also a stretch of road that is fenced well and in a panther preserve. Signs say do not get out of car..

[tallyhoe]

Aren’t those cougars?

[Flick Lives]

Aren’t those cougars?

—

I don’t think so. Cougars are usually found in bars.

[T-Bird45]

“Aren’t those cougars?”

Smart Ass answer: No, those are usually wearing a little black dress, drinking a martini, and eyeing the young studs.

Wildlife knowledge answer: cougar/panther/mountain lion...same/same/same. Names are dependent on local use.

[Dr. Zzyzx]

I don’t think he said “poured”. I think he said “pored” and the reporter heard him wrong and wrote it wrong. They look like mountain lions to me! I guess it depends on what you pour on them.

[tallyhoe]

Here is encounter with a cougar..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyv5PvUByfs

[tallyhoe]

I don’t think so. Cougars are usually found in bars.

LOL!!!

[tallyhoe]

“Aren’t those cougars?”

Smart Ass answer: No, those are usually wearing a little black dress, drinking a martini, and eyeing the young studs.

Wildlife knowledge answer: cougar/panther/mountain lion...same/same/same. Names are dependent on local use.

They’re not in any bars I used to hunt in!!!

[Jamestown1630]

The words tend to be colloquially interchangeable, but the two are actually separated into two genera; and then there’s the Puma:

http://pediaa.com/difference-between-cougar-and-panther/

http://www.livescience.com/27267-pumas.html

(They’re all just big cats, to me...)

[Rockingham]

The Florida panther is considered a subspecies of cougar that is notable for its kinked tail. Some years ago, after the panther seemed to recover miraculously from near extinction, it was found that their numbers were so small that genetic abnormalities were causing health issues likely over time to extinguish them entirely. Several male western cougars were then introduced into the wild to breed with the locals. It worked, with Florida panther health and numbers improving enough to give them a still tenuous survival.

Fortunately, the Florida panther is so innately shy of humans that there are no recorded attacks on people or even a problem with livestock predation. Eventually, that may change, but Florida's hot and humid climate and abundance of gators, biting insects, and venomous snakes deter the careless from venturing into the woods and swampland that are natural panther habitat.

[sheik yerbouty]

There are bunches of them in Miami..

[Texan5]

Those are mountain lions here-see their tracks and hear them sometimes-the woods and river are less than 3 acres away-but seldom see them-beautiful animals-but don’t get close...

[Jeff Chandler]

cougar/panther/mountain lion/puma

[Jeff Chandler]

The Florida “panther” is a cougar/mountain lion/puma, and therefore NOT a “big cat”. Lions, leopards, jaguars, snow leopards, and tigers are Big Cats.

Cougar/mountain lions/pumas are the largest of the Small Cats, who do not roar but rather purr. They are somewhat closely related to domestic cats.

The term “panther” is not considered a technical term, but rather one used colloquially to label any number of cat types.