Wild Sarasota: Bobcats and Panthers

This environmental education seminar at the North Port Library investigates the biology, behavior, and conservation status of Florida's native wild felines. Led by natural resources educators from the UF/IFAS Extension, the presentation clarifies the key physiological and territorial differences between the common bobcat and the highly endangered Florida panther. The discussion covers the predatory habits of these elusive carnivores and the severe impact that rapid suburban development and highway expansion have on their shrinking habitats. Attendees learn how to identify animal tracks and safely coexist with the apex predators that share the region's remaining woodlands.