Panther found napping outside Florida home

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A panther was found taking a cat nap outside a Florida home on Monday morning.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to the Bonita Springs community around 9:45 a.m. after residents reported a Florida panther sleeping near a stairwell behind some bushes.

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Deputies said they called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to help capture the big cat.

  • (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
    (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
  • (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
    (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
  • (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
    (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
  • (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
    (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
  • (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
    (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

The sheriff’s office said the panther will be evaluated for a health screening and eventually relocated to its natural habitat.

According to FWC, panthers are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Only about 120-230 adult panthers exist today and live primarily in southwest Florida.

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