FEASIBILITY OF TRANSLOCATING PANTHERS INTO NORTHERN FLORIDA

Seven mountain lions (Felis concolor stanleyana) captured in western Texas were released in northern Florida and used as surrogates for evaluating the feasibility of translocating Florida panthers (F. c. coryi). Using radio telemetry, they were monitored daily, except Sundays, from 15 June 1988 to 19 April 1989. The lions established overlapping home ranges, killed large prey at a predicted frequency, and settled into routine movement and feeding patterns before the hunting season. However, during the hunting season the lions either were killed, or they abandoned their home ranges. Subsequent wanderings into urban areas and livestock operations necessitated the early removal of study animals. We cannot recommend the introduction of Florida panthers into northern Florida at this time. Instead, we recommend further study of techniques for establishing viable populations that are compatible with the expanding human population.