FP-214
This female panther, estimated between 3 and 4 years of age, was collared on February 22, 2012 in the Turner River Unit.
In April of 2014 we detected possible denning activity, so set up the remote monitoring device, and made several attempts to find the kittens but failed to do so. Based on the number of likely den sites found, possibly hearing kittens vocalizing, and FP-214’s movements, we believe we missed this den.
At the end of February 2016 FP-214 again appeared to be denning. On March 3, 2016 we searched near the location where FP-214 denned in April 2014 and found two male kittens.
K-452 and K-453
They each weighed more than four pounds and appeared to be about 20 days of age.
FP-214, K-452, and K-453 in their den.
In January of 2017 FP-214 again appeared to be denning. On January 18, 2017 while searching an area 350 meters from her last den we found two male kittens. By weight and tooth eruption they appeared to be 21 days old.
K-466 weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces. He had a kink at the tip of his tail.
K-467 weighed 4 pounds. He did not have a kink at the tip of his tail.
Before putting the kittens back in their den at 5:30pm we placed motion activated trail cameras around the den. Cameras let us learn a bit more about the life of panthers. From the cameras we learned that FP-214 did not return to the den until 1 am on 01-20-2017. She stayed with her kitten for six hours before leaving for two hours. At 9 am on 01-20-2017 she returned to move her kittens to a new location. Because she only needed four minutes to move the first kitten, we know the new den was a short distance away.
FP-214 on May 9, 2017 spotted from a tracking flight.
