Big cats in FL

I've always thought of the mountains out west when considering big cats but Florida is also home to the Florida Panther, a cousin to the Cougars. Also called mountain lion, puma but they are not panthers like leopards or Jaguars as the name suggests. Florida's panther population is thought to be 100 to 160 adults and yearlings, a figure that puts the on the endangered species list. As recently as the 1970s, the Florida panther was close to disappearing, with as few as 20 animals in the wild. Sadly another was lost not far from where we are staying. This cat suffered from what kills most big cats in FL, a run in with a vehicle at night. As nocturnal hunters with a wide range, the cats are rarely seen by motorists until it's to late.