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The Florida panther is actually one of 30 interbreeding subspecies of the puma. The animal is known in the American West as the cougar, a shy cat that has even been spotted in the Midwest (although Pennsylvania claims the largest number of puma sightings). In Swamp Screamer Charles Fergus describes the lifecycle, habits, and gradual near-extermination of the great cats in Florida. Despite their proclivity for hiding in the swamps, pumas are often killed by illegal hunting, traffic, or high levels of mercury. Conservation efforts include tagging and the controversial transplanting of pumas from Texas into the rapidly shrinking population in Florida. This last method has been criticized for preserving panthers in Florida while changing the genetics of the Florida panther; the days of the true swamp screamer may soon come to an end. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly
The Florida panther is facing extinction; its dwindling population of about 50 is threatened by genetic problems, fragmentation and loss of habitat. Fergus (A Rough-Hunting Dog) examines the current status of the panther and the efforts under way to save it. He crisscrossed Florida with wildlife officials, tracking and tagging animals for three years. Two state and two federal agencies are involved with panthers; their work includes captive breeding, importation of Texas panthers and monitoring tagged and released animals. Fergus discusses the politics of the panther and raises the pertinent questions: Should land be reserved exclusively for their habitat? Should we limit hunting in panther habitat, restrict resort and housing development and ban the use of land for new citrus groves? In the end, he makes a compelling case for saving the panther.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.