Florida panther photographed in Hendry County. Photo by Donna McMurrer
Donna McMurrer got the surprise of her life on the morning of August 16 while birding in Hendry County. She heard some rustling in a grove nearby and looked over to see a male Florida panther staring directly at her. She heard more sounds coming from the grove, and out walked a female Florida panther. The mating pair remained in the area for about 10 minutes, and Donna took these amazing photos and submitted them to the FWC's panther sighting registry (http://bit.ly/1h0NQU1).
Florida panther mating pair photographed in Hendry County. Photo by Donna McMurrer
FWC panther biologist Dave Onorato contacted Donna via email on August 21 and had this to say about her amazing encounter: "It really makes our jobs rewarding when we hear someone that excited about seeing a Florida panther. Those of us that have been working with panthers for 10, 20, 30 years have yet to be so lucky. We really appreciate you sharing these photos with us." Donna could not contain her excitement, and from speaking with her it's clear that this is a moment she will remember for the rest of her life. To learn more about our panther research and conservation efforts and to purchase a panther license plate, visit: http://www.floridapanthernet.org/
Another photo can be seen on our new Instagram page! Follow us @FWCResearch.
Florida panther photographed in Hendry County. Photo by Donna McMurrer
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