Florida panther spotted in Sarasota County preserve

The last time those manning and maintaining the T. Mabry Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County saw signs of a Florida panther was spring of 2005. After five years of wondering and waiting, a new sighting brought new hope 12 days ago.

The volunteer group, Friends of the Carlton Reserve, reported today it happened on the night of Feb. 5. That's when Soutwest Florida Water Management District land manager, Stephanie Green, says she spotted a panther on a trail in the Reserve.

Friends Vice President Sherm Stratton says as Green sat less than 75 yards away she enjoyed an "unrestricted view of a very large, long tailed, tawny coated cat ... as it sat down."

Stratton says Green recounted how the cat "looked back at her and then leaped an eight foot wide drainage canal in the same direction where several hogs had dispersed."

Stratton says "within moments of the panther disappearing Green heard the unmistakable scream of a hog."

The next day Stratton says Sarasota County's Natural Resources land manager, Debbie Blanco, tracked down a panther print and made a plaster cast of it. Experts with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have confirmed the 4-inch-long print is a panther track.

Stratton says a check of specially-placed cameras in the Reserve later revealed a blurry-image of what appears to be a panther in the same area a few days earlier.

Stratton says the news had him "jumping up and down in the woods" he felt so happy.

Volunteers with the help of the county's Natural Resources crew continue to search for signs of the panther believed to be a young male making his way north from South Florida possibly in search of a mate. Blanco doesn't think its the same panther captured clearly on a camera in 2001 because that cat had a distinct pawprint. Male panthers can stake out up to 200 miles for their territory.