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