March 1, 2015 - Tallahassee Museum - Mammals
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At the Tallahassee Museum, you can see animals native to north Florida. This is the Florida subspecies of Black Bear (Ursus americanus floridanus). It’s found throughout Florida and in the southern parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Before Florida was settled by Europeans, the bear population was estimated at 12,000. They even lived in the Florida Keys.
In the 1970s, only a few hundred Florida Black Bears were left. Since then, the population has rebounded and is now estimated to be over 3000. It has been illegal to hunt Black Bears in Florida since 1994. In 2012, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission removed them from the state threatened species list. Now, the biggest threat to Florida Black Bears is collisions with vehicles.
The Gray Fox has a huge range. It is found in southern Canada, throughout the United States, Mexico and Central America, and in the northern part of South America. Because it is mostly out during the night, however, it’s an animal that people seldom see. A Gray Fox can be from 30 to 45 inches in total length, and can weigh from 8 to 15 pounds. It is one of the few dog-like wild animals that can climb trees.
In 1500 A.D., Florida Panthers were found throughout the southeastern United States. Today, they are found only in the southern tip of Florida. Only 100 to 180 adult panthers exist in the wild, making them one of the most endangered animals in the world. It is Florida’s official state animal.
Florida Panthers can be 5.9 to 7.2 feet long, including the tail. They can weigh 65 to 150 pounds and males are larger than females. Efforts to increase the population are having some success. One limiting factor is the lack of suitable habitat. A male panther needs a 200-square-mile territory. Panthers are at the top of the food chain and help keep the deer and feral hog populations in check.
The Red Wolf is larger than a Coyote but smaller than a Gray Wolf. Males can weigh 60 to 80 pounds and females can weigh 40 to 60 pounds. In the 1970s, there were so few Red Wolves left that the Fish and Wildlife Service started a captive breeding program to save the species from extinction. It has been a long and difficult effort but Red Wolves have been re-introduced into areas in North Carolina and seem to be doing well.
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