Food Habits of the Florida Panther in Everglades National Park

Dalrymple, George; Bass, Oron

The objective of this report was to determine the diet and feeding habits of the Florida panther (Felis concolor coryi) in the Everglades National Park (ENP) based on data from kill sites and scats. We examined the diet of Florida panthers (Felis concolor coryi) in Everglades National Park from 1984 to 1991 using data from 113 kills sites of nine radio collared panthers, and 272 scats. Nine prey were identified at kill sites and 15 prey types from scats, for a total of sixteen prey species. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was the most important prey species based on frequency and percent of occurrence at kill sites. The most important deer from kills were adult bucks and does. The average number of days spent at a kill was 3.86 (s.e. = 0.19). The longest average stay at kill sites was for adult bucks (4.79 days, s.e. = 0.56). The main prey from scats were white-tailed deer, marsh rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris), and raccoons (Procyon lotor). There was a significant difference in the frequency of occurrence and percent of total prey in scats when they were divided into scats from kill sites (toilets) and from elsewhere (non-toilets). Feeding habits were variable between panthers. The assumption that a single prey (e.g. racccoons) may be the source of mercury poisoning for all cats from southern Florida is not clearly reflected in our data.

Food Habits of the Florida Panther in Everglades National Park

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