A Florida Fish and Wildlife team has given the newest addition to the Florida panther population a checkup.
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The Panther team assessed K525, K526, and K527 this week.
According to a post by FWC on social media, assessments are conducted when kittens are between two and four weeks old, using data from the mother’s GPS collar to determine when she leaves the den to hunt.
Biologists then locate the den and each kitten is sexed, weighed, dewormed, microchipped for ID, and has a biopsy sample taken for genetic assessment.
Over the past 33 years, the FWC Panther team has sampled 527 kittens, providing valuable insights into their litter size, sex ratios, den site selection and more.
This litter’s mother, FP269, from last season lost three kittens from her previous litter after they were predated, likely by a black bear based on evidence collected by the team. The survival rate for Florida panther kittens to make it to year one is low – only 32%.
Florida panthers are protected as an endangered animal under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are only 120-230 adult panthers in the entire southeastern United States.