Florida panther movements, social organization and habitat utilization final performance report 1987-1990

Maehr, David

Analyses of Florida panther (Felis concolor coryi) habitat use, movements, and social interactions in southwest Florida were based on 6, 845 radio locations of 24 panthers collected between January 1985 and June 1990. Panthers prefer uplands, especially hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods over wetland forest cover. Forested uplands cover a relatively small area of iinhabitl panther range but receive a disproportionately high level of use. Daytime cover and female den sites usually are located in dense understory vegetation, typically saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). Daybeds usually are relocated daily, while den sites are used for up to 2 months by female panthers and their litters from parturition to weaning. · Home range size varied from 53 to 1,183 km^2 and averaged 191 km^2 for adult females and 558 km^2 for adult males. Horne range shifts were documented in adult females as the result of a home range vacancy and dispersal from a natal range. Shifts in adult male home ranges were due to male deaths and home range establishment by an adjacent male. Four resident, dominant adult males were monitored, the other 8 were subadults or non-residents. All adult females were considered residents. Dispersal was documented in 7 panthers. Mean dispersal distance for 6 males (mean age=17.3 months) was 51.8 km (range 22-80 km), and was 16 km for 1 female. Two dispersing subadult males were killed by resident adult males. Florida panthers are essentially solitary except while females raise kittens and during mating or attempted mating. The most frequent interactions were between females and their kittens, followed by adult males and adult females, and adult males and subadult females. Adult panthers are usually >2 km apart. Florida panthers exhibit mortality patterns typical of unhunted mountain lion populations. Turnover in adult residents is extremely low and mortality in subadult males is relatively high. The lack of frequent home range vacancies makes the likelihood of male recruitment low. The greatest known cause of panther mortality is highway collision (n=13), however, this number is skewed towards males and panthers living in or adjacent to the Fakahatchee Strand.