Chatter about Florida panther sightings is making its way around Jupiter.
A recent post on social media said someone saw a panther along Indiantown Road near Riverbend Park the night of Monday, Sept. 7.
“Did anyone see what looked like a panther eating what looked like a small dog or cat off Indiantown road by Riverbend park this evening???” a user with the name Matthew Durnya wrote on Nextdoor. “I’ve never seen anything like it!”
Another user commented saying that they saw a panther crossing Pennock Point Road a few months ago.
How common are Florida panther sightings in Palm Beach County? Let's explore.
Was it a Florida panther?
Florida panthers are an endangered species. There are about
120 to 230 adult panthers left, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Florida panther sightings are not common in Palm Beach County, but they are possible, according to Amy Kight, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary’s executive director. People are more likely to see bobcats or foxes roaming around.
Still, Kight gets frequent calls about Florida panther sightings. Jupiter has green space that panthers might pass through. Panthers are usually found in forested areas and they like to stay away from urban environments, but they do travel.
“Jupiter is a great little area because you've got Riverbend, Pine Glades, Cypress Creek (and) Corbett,” Kight said. “All of those areas would be potentially utilized by panthers when they don't want to be seen by people, but need to make their way across the state.”
And more wild animals are being forced into urban areas because of the growing development in the state. It is also possible that the panther that could have been spotted in Jupiter was eating a dog or a cat, but those animals are not in their typical food chain. They usually eat animals like deer, rabbits and possums, Kight said.
“Most of the time, dogs are noisy and in the panther's eyes, obnoxious,” Kight said. “They don't really want to do anything with them. And cats generally don't eat other cats. But it's a possibility and you can't rule it out when you're talking about a carnivore, especially if it's in an urban area, where food is a scarcity.”
What to do if you see a Florida panther?
People who see Florida panthers shouldn’t do anything, but they can try to document the sighting from a safe distance, Kight said.
“Just be aware that you saw it,” Kight said. “It's probably just traveling through. And consider yourself very, very lucky.”
Florida panthers are not usually aggressive, but they will protect themselves if they feel threatened. But usually, they want to stay away from humans.
Maya Washburn is a Trending News Reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Was it a panther? Possible Florida panther sighting in Jupiter
