Big Cypress National Preserve

National Park Service

Panther Kitten Check up in the den.

Pho

to courtesy of R

alph Arw

ood

The Wildlife Biologist determine that a female panther may be denning based on locating her in the same place for more than one week while monitoring collar signals from the air.  

They then set up the den monitoring box within 200-300 meters of the den so that they can remotely monitor the female panther more closely using the radio frequency on her collar and a phone set to that frequency. This allows for the Wildlife Biologist to learn the panthers routine so that they know when they can approach the den.

Photos courtesy of Ralph Arwood

When the panther kittens are between 2 and 3 weeks in age the Wildlife Biologist

prepare to go out to search for the den in the day light hours, when they know the

mother will be away long enough for them to check the kittens.

Photos courtesy of Ralph Arwood

Up to 3 biologist experienced in searching for dens, will approach the

den area from different directions. Slowly and cautiously they look

under vegetation for the kittens and carefully bring them out.

Photo courtesy of Ralph Arwood

Once found, they are taken to the work-up site, using caution in protecting their eyes from the vegetation.

A “work-up site” is selected and prepared with the biomedical supplies for handling

up to 4 kittens at a time.

Photo courtesy of Ralph Arwood

At the work up site the kittens are assigned a number, then Wildlife

Biologist determines its gender and then weight it.

Ph

oto

cou

rtesy o

f Ra

lph

Arw

oo

d

Photo B

ICY

AR

CH

IVE

A transponder chip with the kitten’s assigned

number will be inserted, so that if the kitten is

found later they can easily access information that

is recorded. The site between the shoulder blades

is prepared first by cleaning it with alcohol. Then

the transponder which is about the size of a grain

of rice is inserted under skin.

Photos BICY Archive

The Wildlife Biologist plucks a small sample of hair from the side and

belly. Plucked hair usually retains the follicle, making it usable for

genetic analysis. Also a small sample of hair is shaved from the belly

for mercury analysis

Photo courtesy of R

alph Arw

ood

Photo B

ICY

Archive

The kitten is given a de-wormer to reduce their parasitic load. This is

done by placing ½ tsp of de-wormer that is yellow and color and is

reported to taste like bananas into a needleless syringe. Then slowly

inject the liquid on the kitten’s tongue allowing it to lick and swallow it

slowly so it doesn’t go into its lungs.

Photos BICY Archive

Blood is drawn from the jugular of some of the kittens if they

are not too squirmy. This is used to find blood parasites and is

another method of genetic determination.

Photos BICY Archive

The Wildlife Biologist then checks the overall heath of the kitten. They check for a kink in

the tail and cowlick on back. They collect feces if available. Any abnormalities are

recorded through photographs as well as tooth eruption is assessed and photographed.

Photos BICY Archive

The Wildlife Biologist cleans an ear close to the tip to collect

skin biopsies with an ear punch. Gauze is held with pressure

to stop bleeding, and an antiseptic ointment is applied to

site once bleeding has stopped. Then the biopsies are

placed in liquid medium for storage.

Photos BICY Archive

A final step prior to returning the

kittens to the den is to use the

“reader” to make sure each

transponder is still under the skin after

handling.

Photo BICY Archive