Town hall to deal with panther problems
Thursday, November 16th, 2006Increasing encounters between endangered Florida panthers and people living in rural areas are posing enough concern to wildlife officials to hold a town-hall meeting on how to live with the big cats.
Collier County residents of Ochopee, Immokalee and Golden Gate Estates have suffered losses of a house cat, a small dog, and livestock including emus and turkeys, according to Darell Land, the panther team leader for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Naples.
The panthers also have begun approaching people.
“We had an ex-Game and Fish commissioner who was turkey hunting, calling turkeys, when he sensed something was behind him,” Land said.
“He looked over his shoulder and there was a panther. They made eye contact, and they both skedaddled.”
The town-hall meeting in Naples was initiated by Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta, with participation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials with the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, and the National Park Service.
“People have to be careful around wild animals,†said Chuck Collins, regional director for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s south region. “We are committed to working closely with residents of Collier and surrounding counties to provide them information so they know what to do to reduce risks to themselves, their pets and their livestock.â€
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