Most charismatic megafauna?

[Robert Sobczak]

Which animal would you
rank as most exciting
to see in the wild?

a. squirrel
b. panther
c. deer
d. eagle
e. bear
f. python

Find out my answer in Go Hydrology!  

[Kim Gass]

Panther. I have seen one but oh so quickly in Big Cypress. No time for a camera.  The head and gait and low tail struck me..so catlike and so big.

I would like to see a python..safely. I might have seen one dead on the road but I don't know snakes well.

[Robert Sobczak]

I agree.  The squirrel just didn't do it for me.

[Swamp Hunter]

A few years back when they released Cougars on Loop Road, I saw a very large male 10 feet in front of my headlights at the Interpretive Center.. I may have startled him at first as he jumped to the top of the fence and back down. Looked into my headlights and walked slowly back across the road and across the little Nature Trail bridge. I found out later he had been mauling the deer inside the fence where they had set up a feeder.

[Robert Sobczak]

Haven't heard much about the panthers down there since that dust up.  I think the fence around the center did the trick.  Still, I wouldn't feel safe walking alone at night.

[Swamp Hunter]

He had his big paws on the top of the fence in one seemingly effortless leap. I think he could have made it over. Biggest male I ever saw. He used to come around looking for females, I was told by the residents nearby. No collar..

 

Two teenage panther offspring prowled the Loop Road day and night until all the small mammals were gone. They were not afraid of humans.

[Robert Sobczak]

Did the panther or pythons do in the small mammals? Or extra gators and coyotes, too?

[Swamp Hunter]

Nobody knows but its a topic of much discussion amongst concerned hunters and outdoorsman and even the Indians filed suit over the disappearance of small mammals. .  The decline on the Loop Road started with the necessary introduction of the Texas Cougars. There is no doubt that the proliferation of these cats played a huge part.

 

In my theory the cats eliminated the pigs. This explains why the only ones remaining were huge male boars. I couldnt figure at first how they decimated the deer in the Starsteps Area south of Loop Rd. when I realized the cats could easily ambush them on the islands during high water periods.

 

 The Python sightings on the Loop Road seemed to come later after the damage was done

but Im sure they play a huge part in the decline as well because they can seek out small mammals underground were panthers cannot. One tactic I noticed by raccoons that survive are sleeping high up in trees.

 

Wow, what about those gators? I remember they were a Threatened Species. You make a good point, gators are everywhere but I dont think this is a problem. Coyotes are not plentiful on the Loop Road but I have seen them.

 

One of my early theories was that kittens born to Texas Cougar mothers may not learn to eat Gators but this is just a wild theory of mine and nobody else seems to agree.

 

 

The introduction of Texas cats was necessary and the people working do a great job. The NPS also do a great job. I talk to a lot of people when Im working and try to get everyones thoughts and opinions but nobody seems to know for sure. I would have to guess its a combination of all of the above but mostly Panthers and Pythons.. 

 

The Panthers are native, the Pythons are not, so the snakes have to go.  If the snakes are kept in check, the rest should balance out eventually. Right now there are too many Panthers. It is no longer a once-in-a-lifetime rare sight but thrilling nonetheless. They say this will balance out as the males will kill each other or seek out other areas across the Caloosahatchee River.  

[Robert Sobczak]

Interesting to hear your perspective on this.  You covered a lot of bases for sure and have given it quite a bit of thought. Panther enthusiasts are hesitant to point the finger at them.  What about bobcats, could they play a role too?  

[Swamp Hunter]

Yes a lot of thought. You should hang around the check station, its all hunters talk about.  Everyone is worried.

 

Bobcats have always been here.   Im sure they eat their share of small mammals and fawns but I dont think they are a major factor. Actually Ill bet Panthers are eating Bobcats because they eat housecats and feral cats..

 

Most experts claim the introduction of the Texas cats were necessary to save such a beautiful creature and nobody wants to see our State Animal go extinct. The Panther is saved and the program was successful..

 

The Pythons have to go. Hunters are a big help in the erradication process. I even heard of some hunters pulling Pythons out of underground holes.

[Robert Sobczak]

Interesting that it's become such a prominent talking point at the check stations.  Hunters are out there seeing it first hand.  I've heard some express skepticism on the recent study, i.e. small mammal roadkill comparison, but if it's also corroborated by what the hunting community is seeing then it gives it more validity. Is it just the Loop Road area, or pretty much everywhere? 

[Swamp Hunter]

It seems to have started on the Loop Road but I dont see the road kills on Tamiami Trail that used to be a common occurance.  Hogs are gone everywhere in the BCNP.  Small animals way down.  Hunters are concerned deer north of the Trail will be next. 

 

Panthers doing fine.

Bear sightings are up.

Gators everywhere.

 

We used to have Raccoons and Armadillos at the Loop Rd. campgrounds but no more.  I saw 3 deer inside the Loop Unit last week on my hike so maybe they are getting smarter or the panthers moved north. I guess its follow the food supply and survival of the fittest. 

[yakmaster]

Panthers can jump in & out of the fence no problem. Fence isn't a panther fence. It's a deer fence. Panthers don't eat freshly mowed grass, but they love the deer that do...Keep the deer off the grass, keep the panthers out of the yard.