Life Cycle
Mating season runs from October through March. The female is ready to mate when she is between two and three years old. When a female is ready to mate, she leaves scent markings for the male to find. Kittens are born after about three months. The mother prepares a den in a dry and protected place, like a thicket. She gives birth to between one and three kittens. The kittens are blind and have spotted coats and blue eyes. In about two to three weeks, their eyes open and they begin to walk.
The kittens stay in or near the den for about two months. They are weaned and start eating meat when they are about two months old. The spots on their coats begin to fade after four to six months. They leave their mother when they are about a year and a half old. Once they leave their mother, they establish their own territory.
Behavior
The Florida panther is solitary animal. A male's
home range can be up to 250 square miles. A female's home range is usually between 70 and 200 square miles. Territories may overlap. Dominant animals usually have the better territories. Males fight other males that invade their territory. The panther marks its territory with markings called
scrapes. Scrapes are piles of dirt and grass scratched up with the panther's hind legs. They are about six inches long and are usually marked with urine.
The Florida panther is most active at night. It can travel up to 20 miles a day and can run in short bursts of up to 35 miles an hour.
)
)
)
)
)