IMMOKALEE, Fla.—Some potential positive panther news as officials from the Pepper Ranch at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary say that a Florida panther may be pregnant.
Footage provided by viewer Tom Mortenson shows FP267 as the possibly expecting mother, noting that she was collared on February 1, 2024, at the sanctuary.
It was noted that at the time she weighed 80 pounds and was about 5 years old. Her collar failed prematurely and is no longer transmitting.
The further likelihood that FP267 may be pregnant points to how she was recorded with two kittens during her stay at Pepper Ranch, and another kitten in Summer 2025.
In May 2025, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission located a litter of newborn panther kittens.
Posted on their Instagram page, FWC’s panther team posted images of the panthers designated as K525, K526, and K527.
According to FWC, assessments are conducted when kittens are between two and four weeks old, using data from the mother’s GPS collar to determine when she leaves the den to hunt.
Historically, Florida panthers typically give birth to between one and two kittens, with a gestation period of approximately three months.
According to The Florida Wildlife Viewing, breeding can occur at any time of year but is most common between November and March. Once the female is no longer in heat, the male leaves the area.
Due to the chaotic lifestyle of a Florida panther, the mother must leave her kittens unprotected while she hunts, sometimes for upwards of two days.
Nicholas Karsen is a Digital Specialist and has been with WINK News since May 2023.