Panther sightings reported in San Marco area

[Tacachale]

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has issued an alert of two possible panther sightings in the San Marco area.

Police have received two separate reports, one on Tuesday, the other on Friday, of what is believed to be a panther. One was at the dead end of Lasalle Street, while the other was behind 1501 Hendricks Avenue, less than half a mile apart.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been notified as the Sheriff's Office offers some safety tips: be alert, supervise children, don't approach the panther, and keep pets safe and secure.

From Dan Scanlan at Jacksonville.com.

http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-09-23/story/panther-sightings-reported-san-marco-area#ixzz1Yts2yV4T

[north miami]

Apparently the 'sightings' have been near the river front........far removed from wild land interface.
My bet is that it is a hoax,or captive/pet.

Wild Panther presence in NE Florida not out of the question perhaps.The South Florida population is apparently expanding,cats showing up further North.
The is a rumour some may be intent on 'transplant' on their own...although many are radio collared,positions intensively tracked...better get one without tracking device!

[acme54321]

Sightings have been west of Hendricks around the tennis courts, not riverfront.

[Garden guy]

He can come to my house...riverside rats need someone that size...

[north miami]

Sightings have been west of Hendricks around the tennis courts, not riverfront.

Any space west of Hendricks still typically far removed from the acknowledged plausible possible core habitat drivers.

This assuming of course the Cat 'naturally' springs from wild

[north miami]

Times Union possibly should have sat on the sidelines with this one as far as general "Panther" image..Time will tell

second thoughts,images of 'wild' naturally come to mind but even if not so wild it's presence significant,public safety matter.

When the family pets step outside they are alert to Possible Mastadon.So too are humans.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Cam is that you?

[ubben]

He probably walked the train tracks. They would provide an easy path into downtown Jax.

[Ernest Street]

One news station actually aired the witness interview about a feral cat being in it's mouth (GASP!  The Dirty truth! )
If this is the case this panther will be finding Tons of food in San Marco.   Stray cat Feeders/Hoarders beware! you might need to find another hobby.

[duvaldude08]

Cam is that you?

I know right! May be upset we held him to 71 yards yesterday. He's seeking revenage. LOL

[Captain Zissou]

Best quote from the TU yesterday was "Probably a Jaguar.  Not surprising that it was in San Marco.  They can often be found any place but the endzone".

I laughed.  I hope they safely remove this cat and relocate him to a safer environment.  I'm glad the wild cat population is growing again.  I hope we can coexist peacefully and successfully.

[Jaxson]

There are plenty of cougar sightings in Ponte Vedra ; )

[acme54321]

If he's snacking on feral cats let him stay!

[Ocklawaha]

There are plenty of cougar sightings in Ponte Vedra ; )

Puma concolor coryi, or the Florida Panther isn't exactly a Felis concolor, or Western Cougar... It is a distinct subspecies of the much more common "Mountain Lion." During the effort to save the last of them back in the 1980's the State of Florida published a monthly newspaper called 'Coryi,' it tracked their movements, deaths and births. I never supported the states claim of 'only 14 left' because at that time while the last of them was supposed to be in the Everglades, we had a family of them on the peninsular formed by Julington Creek and Durbin Creek.

The panther situation reminded me of the Tasmanian Tiger which is 'officially extinct' but is sighted often and even photographed.

OCKLAWAHA

[Jaxson]

There are plenty of cougar sightings in Ponte Vedra ; )

Puma concolor coryi, or the Florida Panther isn't exactly a Felis concolor, or Western Cougar... It is a distinct subspecies of the much more common "Mountain Lion." During the effort to save the last of them back in the 1980's the State of Florida published a monthly newspaper called 'Coryi,' it tracked their movements, deaths and births. I never supported the states claim of 'only 14 left' because at that time while the last of them was supposed to be in the Everglades, we had a family of them on the peninsular formed by Julington Creek and Durbin Creek.

The panther situation reminded me of the Tasmanian Tiger which is 'officially extinct' but is sighted often and even photographed.

OCKLAWAHA

I appreciate your scientific know-how, Ock, but I was thinking more along the lines of the two-legged cougar that has been prowling Ponte Vedra.  (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bonnie-fuller/cougars-and-milfs-rule-40_b_179465.html)