Big cat safe zone
Special Report Video by fox4now.com
The big cats have been dwindling in numbers and showing genetic deformities because of in-breeding.
But a critical piece of property has opened up- allowing the cats
to travel across the state, letting the predators roam and mingle with
their own kind.
It almost didn't happen... just one day before it was to go on the
auction block last year... this one essential piece of property- just
east of Labelle - was snapped up by a coalition of nine different
government agencies and private organizations.
And now... biologists believe the Florida panther actually has a future.
The florida panther can run fast... but it just doesn't have anywhere to go... trapped by developments and dangerous roads.
But a critical piece of property along the Caloosahatchee recently became available.
This land north of state road 80, which was supposed to be yet
another gated community, went into foreclosure and biologists knew that
it was a special place for the cats.
Erin myers is a biologist for US Fish and Wildlife. She says "We
have three males cats that we have GPS points on that have crossed
exactly here on this river."
THe cat population starts in the Everglades. they are able to hop
from a trail of conservation property to cattle ranches to this property
on the river... where its the most narrow and shallow... and the land
across it is undeveloped too.
Wendy Mathews is with the Nature Conservancy. She explained that
"its the bottleneck for the florida panther moving from its territory
south of the Caloosahatchee River into areas north of the
Caloosahatchee."
And with this key connection, it means the cats can roam and breed with other cat populations- ensuring the species survival.
But first, nine different federal, state and county agencies ...
and even a private rancher ... worked together to raise the 6.6 million
dollars to purchase the property.
Mathews said "it was nailbiting.!" they acquired the property just one day before it was to go on the auction block.
Dwayne house is a rancher. as part of the deal, he gets to raise
his cattle on this property with the guarantee that the land will never
be developed.
The next step is returning the property back into its natural wetland status.
Scott Kuypers works with Natural Resources Conservation Services.
He talked about this property and explained that "it was drained for
agricultural purposes 60-80 years ago. and were going to be doing
structural measures to restore that Habitat."
That means a more active wildlife corridor ... providing food and shelter for the panther as it migrates.
Its a model the state hopes to use up and down the spine of florida where panthers live.
But there is one major roadblock, the expansion of Highway 80.
The state is now constructing a sidewalk just for the panthers,
that goes underneath the highway, connecting the conservation properties
south of the highway to the land along the river. This will guarantee
them safe passage.
And all this work is starting to pay off according to rancher
House. "We see panthers on this ranch now... I'd say conservatively,
once a week."
The Nature Conservancy hopes to continue raising money so it can work with other ranchers to reduce the threat of development.
If you want to help, consider going to to their website to donate.
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