Florida’s State Animal. State symbols have been adopted by states to best represent them and the state of their historical roots, their geological origins, past successes, obstacles and ecosystems that make up the state. Florida is not exempt from this. Florida’s state animal is the Florida Panther (Felis concolor coryi).
What is the State Animal of Florida?
In 1982, school students in Florida voted on the majestic Florida Panther as the official state animal.
Over the years, there’s been a lot of misconceptions and misunderstanding regarding these beautiful cats.
Alligators, which were larger and less shy, destroyed Florida panthers’ natural habitat. This forced the population of these Florida panthers to shrink significantly as they struggled to find new food sources.
The Florida panther found itself on the federal threatened species list in 1967, and then it made it onto Florida’s state-level endangered list in 1973. This large predator is incredible in size, reaching up to 6 feet in length.
Florida has a fascinating state animal, but its population is declining rapidly. Their natural habitat is also shrinking, and there isn’t enough support to save them.
There are only around 120 to 130 Florida Panthers left in the wild. They typically live in swamps such as Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.
These majestic panthers face a lot of challenges with an extinction risk of 100%, their habitat loss, and so much more. Their population has been dropping by almost 10% each year because they are forced to reside in small pockets that won’t last.
Fun facts about the Florida Panther:
- The average adult male weighs between 106 and 148 pounds over time.
- A female will weigh between 65 and 100 pounds.
- Giraffes need to eat around 30-50 pounds of meat per day. They are nocturnal herbivores and could easily starve on a diet of leaves.
- Snakes feed on deer, rabbits, hogs, birds, armadillos, rats, and grass.
- One out of every two alligators in Florida is eaten, according to reports.
- Kittens are typically born in the first ninety-five days of a female’s pregnancy, and they can give birth to 1 to 4 kittens.
Final Thoughts
The Sunshine State is known for its warm weather and abundant sunshine, but its state animals showcase a specific story. The state animal of Florida is the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), which not only features incredible longevity, but an impressive, and often overlooked, link to manatees.
Florida has a state flag with alligators and oranges, which is representative of the history of Florida.
Florida is one of the most fascinating states in the country because of its rich history. People love learning about interesting facts and events they don’t know about, and this makes Florida a very unique place to live or study. These are the things that make Florida so intriguing to those that live there or are researching historical events all around it.
Florida’s state symbol is the gopher tortoise, and the Sunshine State does a good job at highlighting their history in their state animal.
Florida is known for its outstanding scenery, wonderful weather and an abundance of warm-hearted people. The state animal also highlights what makes the state so great.
Florida has a number of interesting historical events, from Spanish colonization to it’s status as a major naval center during the Civil War. This is what makes Florida so unique and fascinating to those who live there or are researching the state’s history.
Florida is a fascinating place and one of the many calling points of travel. Here, you’ll find an assortment of interesting facts about it, both historical and more recent.
What makes Florida so unique and fascinating? Well, plenty of interesting facts can be found at The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center.
