Posted on 03/08/2011 7:17:30 AM PST by decimon
Predators such as wolves, bears and panthers are being reintroduced close to where people live, as a growing number of scientists believe they may hold the key to restoring damaged ecosystems.
"It used to be we would see it once every year or so, but now it's every two weeks," said Al Sanchez.
"I'm starting to panic when I hear noises. If I come out here I'm concerned I'm going to be his prey."
Mr Sanchez and Reg Malone, who live in a densely populated suburbs of Naples, Florida - a city of 300 000 people - are regularly visited by a Florida panther, a sub-species of the cougar, and have been left unnerved by the close encounters.
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The return of the predator to our world is not without risk and difficulty, but Dr Smith sees predators as a crucial ally in the ongoing battle to reverse environmental decline.
"We know they compete with us. We know they occasionally kill us.
"You know we're going to have to work through that but it's worthwhile.
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(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
It is a subspecies.
I make the distinction between feral and wild so folks know they can rid themselves of the pigs which are a major nuisance. Any time you can take a nuisance and change it into BBQ is a good time. I believe this even though I don’t eat pork. Some good Florida eating especially with a side dish of Swamp Cabbage. Add in some cold beer and you have Nirvana.
Wolves, bears and panthers should be sent to D.C. it could clean that joint up too.
Generally open carry of firearms on your own property is legal in Florida. I say generally because it depends on where you are. If you are in town then you might get a visit from the cops and a possible charge of brandishing. Depends on your neighbors.
Out in the more rural areas its not too much of a problem. I live outside the city in an area being over developed. Since we are in the county its legal to shoot as long as the bullet impacts within the property. However certain neighbors frequently call the cops because of the noise.
depends on the type of hawk. Most likely its a red tail hawk... they make a shreik like call. There are other types oof hawks and falcons that are learning to live with man as well. It really is ammazing how adaptable they are. Best to try and get a real good look at it, maybe a picture and then try to ID it either on the internet or by talking to someone at you local zoo.
Florida panthers were cross bred with cougars aka mountain lions. The panther doesn’t exist anymore.
If it oinks and runs around in the woods then its wild.
Having hunted,backpacked,camped and lived in bear county for over 50 years. not all bears well leave you alone if you leave them alone.
I prefer to be well armed in bear county.
Did they ever put the crossing tunnels under Alligator Alley? They were going to do this so the Florida panther would’nt get hit by traffic while crossing the Alley.
I think there are some tunnels under the road down there. The entire length has chain link fences to keep people from getting eaten by gators.
The panther living in my area ended up getting hit by a car. Right outside a soccer park with lots and lots of little kids.
The only reason they ever were a subspecies was because they were isolated from other panther populations. If memory serves they were interbred with Eastern Cougars as a way of increasing the numbers. It has been several years since I spoke with the FWC’s expert on the Florida Panther so forgive my inexactness.
If it is the descendant of domestic livestock it is feral. Just like there is a distinction between wildcats and feral cats.
yer splittin hairs, not uncommon for people from your part of the state.
:)
they are hogs and they are wild.either way they taste good properly bbq’d
If the government alphabet soup idiots say there is no cougar in the area and you shoot one, you really didn’t shoot it cause its not in your area...perfect to use their logic.
It is a fault I admit. Yes on the BBQ. I don’t like the critters. Horses hate them and coming across one while on horseback is something we used to dread when I was a teen.
When we lived on the river we had a redbone hound and a retriever mix. They both used to get into tangles with the hogs that lived on the undeveloped land across the river from us. They never did manage to bring home the bacon though they surely did give it their best.
Hearing the cat scream, and the hogs squeal as they died, right before you go outside sure gets your attention.
Just last week the feds declared the Eastern Panther extinct!
The reintroduction of big predators has nothing to do with bringing back animals that are missed. It’s all about getting rid of hunters. “There’s not enough deer or elk left for you hunters. What do you need rifles for now?” There is not one single doubt in my mind that the liberals want to get rid of all privately held firearms so they can impose their will on everyone.
I'll have to tell my son in law that the panther his friend saw a couple of months ago chasing a deer across the road in front of his truck and his neighbor who saw one a few days later sitting in her long driveway scouting out her cattle in the adjoining field, that there's nothing to be concerned about since it's extinct. ;-)
That and the black one that is living in the woods out back behind my house.
My husky got out today and ran off. We found him approaching a car, trying to go for a ride. The young man inside was freaked out, thought he was a wolf. LOL
Our county has an estimated 700,000 feral cats, we have bobcats, coyotes, otters, opossums, and these beautiful herons that are always in a mated pair. The panthers are noticeably larger than the bobcats. As for the wild hogs (feral if you wanna be technical), those are pretty easy to distinguish.
We even have some huskies around the neighborhood but no wolves. Thats one problem we dont have.
“We know they compete with us. We know they occasionally kill us. “You know we’re going to have to work through that but it’s worthwhile.
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These people are complete idiots. They are card carrying members of the Culture of Death. I call them the death eaters.
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