The Florida Panther is critically endangered: what you can do to help!

Hello Hockey fans! I am a certified Master Naturalist in the US state of Florida. Whether or not you were rooting for the Florida Panthers during the playoffs, you may find this information interesting.

The Florida Panthers were named after real animal. The Florida Panther is a subspecies of puma/cougar/mountain lion that is endemic to (exists only in) Florida. The franchise were named after this animal not only because it is a fearce predator, fast and agile, but also to raise awareness for it. As South Florida has developed and the Everglades have been chipped away at, the Florida Panther has suffered immensely. Like other large predators, they require large habitats to roam in search of food and mates. The fragmentation of their habitat, as well as other factors like invasive species, motor vehicles collisions, etc. have resulted in a drastic decrease in their population sizes. Technically they are just endangered, not critically endangered.

The Florida Panther is a cultural symbol of South Florida, not just in hockey. The native first peoples who have lived in Florida for generations have revered these shy and solitary animals for their strength and intelligence. There is never been a recorded case of a Florida Panther attacking a human. Many Florida residents will live their whole lives without seeing a panther, and yet they have a large impact on the state.

Like other large predators, Panthers keep prey populations in check and help to balance the delicate and unique ecosystems of the Everglades. On top of that, they are what we in conservation refer to as an "Umbrella Species". This means that, by focusing on the conservation of Panthers, we can conserve countless other species of plant, animal, and fungi. Many of which live only in Florida. The land that Panthers require to survive is vast. So if we save enough land for the Panther, we also save the land for the Gopher Tortoise, Burrowing Owl, Ghost Orchid, etc.

If you're interested in learning more, there is a new documentary available on Disney+ and Hulu called "The Path of The Panther" and it goes into how Floridians from all walks of life are coming together to protect these amazing creatures. I'll warn you, it's a tear jerker. I'll link the website to this post, as it also contains information about what you can do to protect the Florida Panthers. Edmonton Oilers fans have already rallied together and donated to a variety of organizations that work to conserve Panthers, and I think that's just great.

Even if you don't want to donate, consider giving the documentary a watch. It's really well made.