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Save Critical Habitat for the Florida Panther
Target: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar
Sponsored by: Sierra Club
Sponsored by: Sierra Club
No protected habitat exists for the Florida panther, the only big cat east of the Mississippi. And fewer than 100 individual panthers remain, making the Florida Panther one of America's most endangered species.
Scientists conclude that the panther's existing habitat is the bare minimum needed for the remaining population to survive. As of Monday, January 18th the first Cougar death of 2010 has been reported, adding this number to the seven panthers killed on south Florida highways in 2009, and an additional 24 panthers killed by vehicles in the preceding two years. And scientists conclude that the panther's existing habitat is at the bare minimum needed for the remaining population to survive. This situation must not continue.
The Interior Department has the ability under the Endangered Species Act to protect the remaining habitat now. Urge Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to designate critical habitat for the Florida panther today!
Send Letter see who signed this
We took action on “Save Critical Habitat for the Florida Panther”!
# 45,727:
9:18 pm PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, New York
# 45,726:
8:51 pm PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, Minnesota
# 45,725:
8:49 pm PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, Florida
Please stop this Secretary Salazar!! Do you want the Florida Panther to go extinct??Even if you don't thats whats going to happen on less you protect their remaining habitat!!Please for all animals especially the Florida Panther protect the habitat please!! Sincerely, a wild life protector and lover.
Please stop this Secretary Salazar!! Do you want the Florida Panther to go extinct??Even if you don't thats whats going to happen on less you protect their remaining habitat!!Please for all animals especially the Florida Panther protect the habitat please!! Sincerely, a wild life protector and lover.
# 45,724:
7:46 pm PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, Kansas
# 45,723:
7:44 pm PST, Feb 9,
Marsha Meece, Oklahoma
Every single creature on this earth was put here for a purpose, by God. Help save these beautiful big cats and uphold this symbol of Florida. Look at them, study them, and then you won't be able to turn your back on them.
Every single creature on this earth was put here for a purpose, by God. Help save these beautiful big cats and uphold this symbol of Florida. Look at them, study them, and then you won't be able to turn your back on them.
# 45,722:
7:31 pm PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, California
# 45,721:
5:17 pm PST, Feb 9,
Megan Prather, Illinois
# 45,720:
4:11 pm PST, Feb 9,
Paul D Smith, Canada
# 45,719:
3:01 pm PST, Feb 9,
Jane Livshin, California
# 45,718:
2:45 pm PST, Feb 9,
D. Scroggin, Florida
# 45,717:
2:29 pm PST, Feb 9,
Barbara Lynn, Florida
# 45,716:
12:59 pm PST, Feb 9,
Christine Westfeldt, North Carolina
Please, please preserve this beautiful, majestic animal. Our children and grandchildren may then know its stunning beauty.....
Please, please preserve this beautiful, majestic animal. Our children and grandchildren may then know its stunning beauty.....
# 45,715:
12:34 pm PST, Feb 9,
Donna Smith, Louisiana
# 45,714:
11:55 am PST, Feb 9,
Michelle Patrick, California
We can not take their last place to roam and live. Why are they not protected in the first place? This is a bell that we can not un-ring, we need to do the humanitarian thing here and SAVE the Cougar's. I beg the Interior Department to act in the beat interest of these endangered species and to Stand by the amendment to the (ESA) act.
We can not take their last place to roam and live. Why are they not protected in the first place? This is a bell that we can not un-ring, we need to do the humanitarian thing here and SAVE the Cougar's. I beg the Interior Department to act in the beat interest of these endangered species and to Stand by the amendment to the (ESA) act.
# 45,713:
9:17 am PST, Feb 9,
David Laughlin, Iowa
# 45,712:
8:01 am PST, Feb 9,
Toby Cardoso, California
# 45,711:
7:54 am PST, Feb 9,
Janel Couture, New York
# 45,710:
7:48 am PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, New Jersey
# 45,709:
7:35 am PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, Louisiana
# 45,708:
10:44 pm PST, Feb 8,
John Ortbals, California
# 45,707:
8:00 pm PST, Feb 8,
Kevin Carroll, Illinois
# 45,706:
7:18 pm PST, Feb 8,
Dane Williamson, North Carolina
We can work together to save the panther population by acquiring additional land to expand the panther habitat. Programs are working to breed panthers in captivity and later released back into the wild. Scientists are active in cross-breeding the Florida panther with the closely related Texas cougar. The Florida Panther is one of the most endangered mammals on earth. The panthers live in a small area in South Florida. This area includes Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Okaloacoochee Slough, Picayune Strand State Forest, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Corkscrew Swamp National Audubon Sanctuary, Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, portions of Everglades National Park, and large tracts in cattle ranches, vegetable farms, and citrus groves. Many unnecessary panther deaths are caused by vehicles. The panther refuge has Interstate 75 running along its south border and State Road 29 along its east border. The average hunting ground for an adult male Florida panther is about 200 square miles and for adult females about 80 square miles. If the remaining panthers do not space themselves far enough apart, they will not have enough food to prey upon. Florida panthers primarily prey upon deer and wild hogs, however, when desperate will eat armadillos and raccoons. The spacing of the male panthers also has its effects on finding a proper mate. Since the panther’s hunting ground is they are more likely to inbreed. Since inbreeding is occurring, the fragile panther population is steadily shrinking due to many genetic defects. In an effort to correct these problems, scientists transplanted eight Texas cougars into the panther population with positive results.
We can work together to save the panther population by acquiring additional land to expand the panther habitat. Programs are working to breed panthers in captivity and later released back into the wild. Scientists are active in cross-breeding the Florida panther with the closely related Texas cougar. The Florida Panther is one of the most endangered mammals on earth. The panthers live in a small area in South Florida. This area includes Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Okaloacoochee Slough, Picayune Strand State Forest, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Corkscrew Swamp National Audubon Sanctuary, Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, portions of Everglades National Park, and large tracts in cattle ranches, vegetable farms, and citrus groves. Many unnecessary panther deaths are caused by vehicles. The panther refuge has Interstate 75 running along its south border and State Road 29 along its east border. The average hunting ground for an adult male Florida panther is about 200 square miles and for adult females about 80 square miles. If the remaining panthers do not space themselves far enough apart, they will not have enough food to prey upon. Florida panthers primarily prey upon deer and wild hogs, however, when desperate will eat armadillos and raccoons. The spacing of the male panthers also has its effects on finding a proper mate. Since the panther’s hunting ground is they are more likely to inbreed. Since inbreeding is occurring, the fragile panther population is steadily shrinking due to many genetic defects. In an effort to correct these problems, scientists transplanted eight Texas cougars into the panther population with positive results.
# 45,705:
6:59 pm PST, Feb 8,
Elizabeth A Terry, Arizona
Look at this animal and tell me it is not God's creation and sacred. Please protect this precious gift, the Florida panther. Please.
Look at this animal and tell me it is not God's creation and sacred. Please protect this precious gift, the Florida panther. Please.
# 45,704:
6:44 pm PST, Feb 8,
Name not displayed, Colorado
# 45,703:
6:34 pm PST, Feb 8,
Carrie Anne Johnson, Minnesota
Predators exist for a *reason*. If these beautiful cats go extinct, the repercussions on the rest of the ecosystem will be perverse and profound. Please designate a HOME for these animals before it's too late! YOU can make a REAL difference in the world!
Predators exist for a *reason*. If these beautiful cats go extinct, the repercussions on the rest of the ecosystem will be perverse and profound. Please designate a HOME for these animals before it's too late! YOU can make a REAL difference in the world!
