Link to article about it: https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-biologists-capture-heaviest-panther-ever-recorded-sunshine-state

A tree shaker for sure, thanks for sharing

Wow, that thing is a tub.

that tells me lions in fl are no different than lions in the rockies. just generally smaller like every other southern animal. coons to deer.

That looks just like a mountain lion.

I'm starting to worry a little about you BruceT.

Thought florida panthers are suppose to be black?

Now I'm really worrying!

Lol

Just looked it up.So a panther is just another name for a mountain lion or cougar.The black panther is a color phase of a mountain lion.Did not realize that.Why not just call them mountain lions?
Panther
(Quote)Panther is a general term used to describe various types of wild cats. The word “panther” comes from the Latin word “panthēra,” which comes from the Greek word “pánthēr,” a term that means “large spotted cat.” The word “panther’ is also similar to pundarikam, Sanskrit for tiger.

More about panthers
Panthera is a biological classification (the scientific identification of animals as individuals and in relationship to one another). It falls under the Felidae (cat) family and Pantherinae subfamily. Members of the Panthera include the lion, tiger, jaguar, and leopard.

black panther and cub
Types of panthers
Black panthers
black panther and a jaguarWild cats that have a dark (melanistic) color are often referred to as “panthers” or “black panthers,” including big and small wild cats such as jaguars, leopards, and jaguarundi. The word “melanin” means black or dark. Melanin is a type of pigment (coloring).

Looking closely at a melanistic cat’s skin, you will see the markings typically associated with that species. Large black (melanistic) wild cats in captivity are usually leopards or jaguars.

A litter can include both melanistic and non-melanistic cats.

Because most melanistic wild cats were found in jungles with less light than other environments, it was believed that melanism (dark coloring) was an inherited trait or condition that aided the cat’s survival—an evolutionary process of natural selection. New research suggests that melanism might be a helpful immune system mutation.

If you see a black panther in Africa or Asia, it is a leopard. A black panther in North, Central, or South America is a jaguar.

Black panthers in Asia and Africa (Leopards)
You will find black leopards amongst different African and Asian leopard species:

Javan leopard (Panthera p. melas)
African leopard (Panthera p. pardus)
Indian leopard (Panthera p. fusca)
Indochinese leopard (Panthera p. delacouri)
Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera p. kotiya)
Arabian leopard (Panthera p. nimr)
Amur leopard (Panthera p. orientalis)
Black panthers in the Americas (jaguars)
The offspring of jaguars can be either black or spotted. Two spotted jaguars who mate will only have spotted cubs. A black jaguar would have either two black jaguar parents or one black and one spotted jaguar parent.

White panthers
Two white jaguar panthers.White panthers can refer to white cougars, white leopards, and white jaguars. The white condition can occur for different reasons, including:

Leucism – a reduction in pigmentation
Albinism – the absence of pigmentation
Genetic mutation
Florida panther
image of a Florida pantherPanther is one of the cougar’s many names. There is even a cougar named the “Florida panther. ” The Florida panther is a subspecies of the cougar that inhabits southern Florida in the United States.

Florida panthers are endangered—less than 100 are believed to exist in the wild. At birth, a Florida Panther has spots and blue eyes. As they age, the spots start to fade, the cat’s fur turns tan, and the eyes turn yellow. The cat has a black-tipped tail and ears. The underbelly is white. Males can be over 7 feet long and weigh up to 159 lbs.

Florida panthers prey on hares, mice, deer, feral pigs, storks, waterfowl, and alligators. Female panthers raise their kittens in dens. The kittens will stay in the den for the first 6 weeks and then start hunting with their mother. They become independent at around 2 years of age.

lol… it’s a puma

cougar,puma,mountain lion.........and panther

And if you read old books, they are called painters and catamounts.

Big cat!

I was lucky enough to see a Mt.Lion on one of my hunts out west, and I was really surprised at just how big those things are!

Number one killer for them is cars down south (south of central FL), along with bears they get relocated to north Florida (Ocala or surrounding area).

black panther????? to my knowledge there has never been a melanistic cougar killed ever. I thought you were some kind of park ranger?

Here in Baxter State Park in Maine I have never seen a mountain lion,cougar,puma,catamount any color be it brown,black,or orange.The only mountain lion I have seen here in Maine was on a video treed by bear hunters with hounds.

He got that big from eating all those 10 foot long snakes.......jk

BruceT,
You got a new wrinkle in your brain!

lol....a person always is learning.Even at my age

Heck I'm worried about me

Westerns are great but maybe you could stream some wildlife documentaries and call it continuing edumacation for a park ranger.

I apologize for never being around Florida Panthers and only going by what I learned as a kid.

They were an anti-government militant group popular in the late 60's and comprised mostly of African Americans. I didn't even need to Google that.

Yeah ,

Yeah even Forest Gump knows about the black panther party

What's missing from the story is how the researchers happened upon a "panther" up in a tree. Most likely hounds were used to tree it, but you wouldn't want to mention that they are chasing rare and endangered species with hounds.

Bet you are correct.

"According to the Everglades Foundation, the Florida panther is one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the U.S. It has a population of only about 200."

I'm fine with them protecting the Florida sub-population, but Mountain Lions are not an endangered species in the U.S. or North America. This is as rediculous as treating the handful of Canada Lynx in Minnesota or Maine as endangered species.

Yep agreed.Makes no sense at all.

Those were around some bridge near Selma, AL.

The south Florida cougars are one of the most researched critters in the South. Florida FWC is constantly working those cats. Most everyone know hounds are used to tree the cats. Then, darted and collared.

The Mcbrides (from Texas) were contracted at one time to use their hounds in panther research.

I spent a lot of time in south Florida as a kid/teen. I always had my eyes on stems hoping to get a glimpse of a "panther", or find a set of tracks. No such luck. A family friend did have one scurry across Alligator Alley one night though. That was way back when it was a two-lane called Hwy 84.

That's for all that Bruce; but here is the simple reason ....
Years ago 3 adjacent local school districts chose a mascot. One, the Cougars; another, tha Panthers; and the third, Pumas. Now for years (until recent history) the DNR denied that Wisconsin ever had lions in the state. But one needs to seriously consider the possibilities ... 3 adjacent district schools choosing the same animal for their mascot. Perhaps there is more to the story than our DNR knew??? Now they all couldn't call their mascot by the same name, could they?

but think about it , cougars , Pumas and Panthers make better sports team names

Heard it was trapped in a Duke 1.5.

I ran into one of those bad boys checking traps about 13 years ago in taney county MO.

That ol cat went north just as fast as I went south. Kinda startling in an old mag light beam

Collar looks bigger than necessary. I've caught wolves with that kind of collar and it left problems on the animal under the collar. Seems like a sturdy, but thinner, collar would suffice.

That’s one big old cat there!!

The tail looks small for a big lion, must be part pink panther. I normally always see the tails first on our cougars.

wws

The cat in the photo has a full belly so can probable take off 20lbs to get a actual weight