CERP Picayune Strand - Two Year Pre-Construction Panther Prey Baseline Monitoring Survey in the Picayune Strand Restoration Project (PSRP) Area

The quality and quantity of panther habitat in the Picayune Strand Restoration Project (PSRP) area has been affected by past land use practices, hydrologic alterations, road construction, exotic plant invasion, and the lack of fire management. Anecdotal information suggested that the reduced panther occurrence in the PSRP area was likely attributed to a reduction in prey abundance, primarily white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and feral hog (Sus scrofa), stemming from the degraded habitat quality associated with water management practices and the high levels of human disturbance aggravated by the primary and secondary road grid. The present extent of the Florida panther and its primary prey within the PSRP area from July 2005 â March 2007 was described based primarily on indicies of relative abundance (RAI) generated from infrared triggered remote camera surveys that will serve as a basis for future evaluations of project restoration impacts on, and benefits to, panther habitat. All panther prey images are stored in the following DASR location: \\cerp\projects\Data\Picayune Strand Restoration - PROJ 30\Project_Implementation_Monitoring\INLAND\MAMMALS\PANTHER_BASELINE The hyperlinked map for all the images to the camera locations is found in the following DASR location:: \\cerp\projects\GIS\PROJ_30\map_docs\cmn15236_PhotoHyperlink\PantherPhotoHyperlink_cmn15236.mxd