First Panther Safety Town Hall Meeting Held

As an ever-increasing human population continues to encroach upon panther habitat placing more people amongst the urban/wildland interface in southern Florida, the potential for human-panther interactions is expected to increase. A handful of domestic livestock predations have occurred in recent years when, historically, there have been none. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the National Park Service (NPS) are the primary agencies responsible for protection and management of the Florida panther. These agencies are committed to educating residents and visitors about the Florida panther and providing safety tips for residents living in panther habitat and visitors pursuing recreational activities there. One of the ways this will be accomplished is through a series of Town Hall meetings promoting awareness along with practical knowledge and tips for living safely in and near panther habitat. The first meeting was held on November 16, 2006 near Golden Gate Estates in Naples. Recovery of the Florida panther is a multi-agency effort and so too was this meeting which was planned and organized by the FWS, FWC and NPS. Topics covered included panther biology by FWC panther biologist Darrell Land, safety tips and what one should do if they encounter a panther by FWC Captain Jayson Horadam, and the Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan by the FWS Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge manager Layne Hamilton. Additionally, several informational displays by the aforementioned agencies and other non-governmental partners offered take-home materials to the 80 citizens that attended. The Naples meeting was hosted by District 5 Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta and emceed by the FWC’s South Regional Director Chuck Collins. A second town hall meeting was held for residents in the Copeland/Jerome/Everglades City area of rural Collier County on February 15, 2006 with approximately 60 people attending.

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