IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Maehr, D.S.; Land, E.D.; Shindle, D.B.; Bass, O.L.; Hoctor, T.S. | |
| Florida panther dispersal and conservation | |
| 2002 Biological Conservation (106 ): 187-197 | |
We studied dispersal in 27 radio-collared Florida panthers _Puma concolor coryi_ in southern Florida from 1986 to 2000. Male dispersal was longer (mean=68.4 km) than that of females (mean=20.3 km), tended to be circular, frustrated, and of insufficient length to ameliorate inbreeding. Females were philopatric and established home ranges that were less than one home range width away from their natal ranges. All females were successful in establishing territories, whereas males were successful 63% of the time. Dispersing panthers avoided moving toward the southeast and into an area of limited forest cover. Independence and the initiation of dispersal occurred at about 14 months of age and lasted for an average of 7.0-9.6 months for females and males, respectively. On average, Florida panthers disperse shorter distances than are typical for western populations of _Puma concolor_. A recent increase in long distance male dispersal events may be related to an increase in reproduction and population density resulting from the introduction of female cougars _P. c. stanleyana_ into south Florida. Although the population exhibits the behavioral ability to colonize nearby vacant range, females have yet to do so. Successful dispersal to these areas could be facilitated by habitat restoration and translocation of females. |
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