Florida Panther in Navarre?

[LordPorter1]

I live between Mary Ester and the 87 and have an unusually high amount of wildlife in my yard and behind my fence. I decided to buy some cameras and start capturing one of the busy areas. Had a big week and thought I would share.

I caught something I am not 100% sure of, to me it looks a LOT like a juvenile panther, I will also add the Bobcat pics so you can see the difference. Here are the pics for the last week. The bob cat is hard to see it’s twilight and the camera is over exposed but you can see the ears, short tails, black spots. The second set is the panther from last night, very long tail, inset eyes with a longer skull, it is petite and skinny. The FWC site says they have been tracking an unknown sickness in the bobcats and panthers since late 2019.

 

[LordPorter1]

 

[Iamnick]

Looks like they are both bobcats to me

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Bobcat and BEAR!! HOLY CRAP!! Awsome!!

 

[LordPorter1]

Looks like they are both bobcats to me

the smaller size I agree but the flat back and long tail and the shape of the head are throwing me off. I just don’t know enough about it. It looks different but might just be more of the same. I know the odds are against it

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

We've seen bobcats with tails, if the front legs have spots, usually a bobcat.

 

[Iamnick]

the smaller size I agree but the flat back and long tail and the shape of the head are throwing me off. I just don’t know enough about it. It looks different but might just be more of the same. I know the odds are against it

I think you are seeing something on the ground blending in with his tail making it look longer. Looks like a Bobcat tail in the other picture.
Panthers tails stick out like half the length of their body.

 

[5lima30ret]

I examined one up close many years ago that was hit by a car. It was probably 75 lbs had a very long thick tail and very big paws in relation to body size. (Much bigger than a bobcat!) Not sure about yours? Might be worth contacting FL Wildlife Biologist. If it is I am certain they will want to be aware of it.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

I've got a pix of a giant one up be me, if I can find it. Found it.
***To be honest if i saw it, i wouldn't shoot it.

 

[LordPorter1]

I examined one up close many years ago that was hit by a car. It was probably 75 lbs had a very long thick tail and very big paws in relation to body size. (Much bigger than a bobcat!) Not sure about yours? Might be worth contacting FL Wildlife Biologist. If is I am certain they will want to be aware of it.

Yeah I knew if this was one it would have to be very young it doesn’t look more than 30-40lbs I chalked up the skinny tail (which as pointed out by someone very well could be something on the ground making it look like a long tail) as maybe it’s sick due to the post on FWC sight. It for sure doesn’t have the mass expected on a cat like that but I don’t know the time line and size as they go from those little spotted cubs to the big 170lb cats if this is a practical scable size or if it’s just a bobcat with some palms around it. The camera is 33MP kicking myself for not getting higher resolution now.

 

[LordPorter1]

I've got a pix of a giant one up be me, if I can find it. Found it.
***To be honest if i saw it, i wouldn't shoot it.View attachment 505022View attachment 505023

He is a Brute, I am blown away how big they get down here

 

[LordPorter1]

Not to give my address away but I live off whispering pines and 98 right in the busy of Navarre so while we don’t have city limits but I would say I would fall right into them lol. The camera is mounted on my fence and is a water shed easement behind my house. When I first moved here I was caught off guard by the wildlife to say the least

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Not to give my address away but I live off whispering pines and 98 right in the busy of Navarre so while we don’t have city limits but I would say I would fall right into them lol. The camera is mounted on my fence and is a water shed easement behind my house. When I first moved here I was caught off guard by the wildlife to say the least

Cameras are very entertaining. Love mine.

 

[basscatlildave]

I remember reading a article several years ago that a collared Fla panther traveled all the way from the everglades to south Mississippi and back over the course of 4 months.

 

[Recondo 101]

Navarre, when I live there in the 70s had a lot of critters and very few houses. I had a mama black bear with two cubs walk through my front yard one afternoon, I hear the dog grow, so I looked out the picture window and just held my breath and hoped that nothing perturbed mamma or the cubs on the family walk about.

 

[LordPorter1]

Well it came back last night, which is odd because I don’t bait. New pics I think confirm it’s the same cat and that it is a boncat from these new angles