Though lions have been known to climb trees to retrieve carcasses left by leopards, the arboreal agility of the leopards generally protects them. The only other predator whose territory may overlap that of a jaguar is the cougar, but as the cougar is a smaller animal, it poses no threat to the jaguar. So-called black panthers are not a separate species of big cat. They are leopards or jaguars whose normal colorations have been changed by an excess of the black pigment melanin.
Press ESC to cancel. Useful tips. Esther Fleming November 26, Table of Contents. Next Article Which mountain connects Pakistan and Afghanistan? Their eyes are blue and their fur is spotted. They have five dark rings on their tails. The mother gradually increases her time away from them and the distance she travels.
After making a kill, she will eat as much as she can and will return to the den to nurse her kittens. Cougar milk has six times more fat than cow's milk and the kittens grow rapidly.
By eight weeks they weigh about 10 lbs. When left alone by their mother in the den, kittens sleep and play. They chase each other, and exercise their teeth and claws by chewing and scratching vegetation.
When they are about 2 months old, kittens begin to accompany their mother on hunting forays. At first she hides them nearby while she hunts. After a kill, she leads them to the site where they all feed. Gradually they are learning to hunt on their own. By nine to 12 months, they are catching small prey on their own. By one and a half years, they are still hunting small animals such as raccoon and armadillo, as well as an occasional deer or hog. Events leading up to the separation of panther mothers and their offspring are not well documented.
Panther researchers have located resident adult males near females and kittens just before the kittens dispersed. Males probably are attracted to the female's renewed sexual receptivity.
Hormonal changes in the mother may cause her to encourage the offspring to disperse. In any case, by age two panther young have left their mothers to establish ranges of their own. Young females often establish a range that overlaps with their mother's range but male offspring usually are forced out of their mother's range by older males.
Panthers, like most cats, are solitary hunters. They are most active at the same time their prey is likely to be active: dawn and dusk. Biologists refer to animals that are most active at these times as crepuscular. During the day and particularly in the summer, panthers usually rest in a day bed made within the shade of a palmetto thicket. I hope you have a safe and happy Memorial Day!
Hi Bill! They are beautiful cats, aren't they. I too hope that enough is being done to assure their survival. It seems as though the government in Florida is really trying. It would truly be a shame for them to disappear as so many other species have. Thank you for your kind comments and all your support. I visit Florida every year, and have gone by the Panther Crossing signs. I'm so glad that you wrote an article about these beautiful animals. Voted up, interesting and useful.
I tried to edit my comment to say how beautiful your photos are. The one of the panther is amazing! How sad that we can't share this big planet without killing species after species. This is a beautiful animal, and like so many others I hope conservation works! You have written another descriptive article about an amazing animal.
Hi Sheila. What a beautiful creature the Florida Panther is. I hope enough is being done to ensure it's long-term survival. It seems that man is always the reason these beautiful animals are at risk, such a shame. Thanks for sharing this info, love the photos. Voted up, shared, etc.. Hi Patricia! It would be so sad to see these cats disappear from our world.
I'm glad to hear that you shared this information with you students. It is important to teach them compassion for our animals we share this world with. It appears that the people of Florida do care and are taking necessary steps to help the situation. Thank you for stopping by and of couse for the angles! Have a safe and happy Memorial Week-end! Your welcome Randy!
The wildlife officials may want to make it sound a bit more serious that it really is, you never know. Our son was deer hunting on our place last year and felt like something was watching him.
He turned around in his stand to find a large bobcat siting in the next tree, staring at him. It scared the crap out of him, excuse the language. I can't imagine what it would be like to have a panther watching you! Knowing that it had tracked him to his stand, does sound really scary, who knows how hungry he may have been. I don't blame him much either! Thanks Sheila.
I live only 50 miles or so from the Florida line and less than that from the Okefenokee swamp. There are also many bays round cypress swamps close by which are prime hunting ground for the panthers. So yes, there are more of them around than the wildlife officials admit to. The hunter which shot the cat near Columbus said he didn't want to shoot it, but it tracked him to his stand and was watching him intently.
I suppose I don't blame him too much. Hi Randy! I am glad to hear that Florida panthers have been seen in your area of Georgia! My information on the range came from the Florida Wildlife Service website, but I'm sure no one really knows for sure.
The main thing is that their numbers are growing. I would really hate to see them disappear. I'm so sorry a hunter had to kill one of them, I hope he tried everything he could to scare it away first. There have been some reports of panthers here in southern Oklahoma, but these would be the larger mountain lion or cougar.
I would hate to come up on one while in the woods! I appreciate your information and I am going to update my hub to include some personal siteings in southern Georgia. I really appreciate your input! Thank you for not only your kind comment and vote, but the information as well! Thank you, thank you for sharing this Sheila.
I would be so sad if this gorgeous creature were to leave the planet forever. We shared this information with our students while I was still teaching as we tried to plant the seed of caring about them in our student's mind. I only hope that enough people care, soon enough, to avoid their extinction.
Hello Sheila, I must tend to disagree with a bit of your info concerning the range of the Florida panther, although I suppose you got your info some fairly reliable sources. I have personally observed 4 of them in the wild here in south Georgia, with 2 of them being a mating pair observed by several people. Not too many years ago a hunter killed one near Columbus Georgia when it wouldn't leave the area under a tree the hunter was in.
Every thing else in your hub is very good though. Voted up! Hello Faith Reaper! I knew the Florida panther was in danger, but I really had no idea what small number of them there are. I recently read where a That is the largest ever found there. I can't imagine coming across that! Thank you for your kind words and all your support. Have a blessed day! I was not aware of this, but not surprised the cause is man.
I would hate to come across one of those snakes! It's horrible, but the leading cause of death of most animals is man. At least there are people that are tackling the problem and trying to solve it. Raising awareness is always helpful in these situations. Thank you for taking time to read my hub and for your kind comment.
I was aware that it was near extinction and it surprises me not at all that the leading cause of death is man Marine Biology. Electrical Engineering.
Computer Science. Medical Science. Writing Tutorials. Performing Arts. Visual Arts. Student Life. Vocational Training. Standardized Tests. Online Learning. Social Sciences. Legal Studies. Political Science. Welcome to Owlcation. I am a blogger from Southern Oklahoma who loves to write about nature and animals.
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