Paula the Panther stretched her long golden-tan body beneath a shady tree in the Florida Everglades.
She had spent most of the warm afternoon sleeping deep in the woods, where the thick brush helped keep her cool and hidden.
Nearby, her spotted cubs were still curled up together, fast asleep.
Paula quietly stood and stretched again. She was a big cat — 7 feet long from her nose to the tip of her tail.
Paula didn’t know it, but she was part of something very special. Florida panthers are endangered, and because they are such an important part of the state’s wildlife, the Florida panther was chosen as Florida’s official state animal.
Just then, Paula’s ears perked up.
Rustle... rustle...
Something was moving in the brush.
Paula stood very still and listened.
Maybe it was a rabbit.
Maybe a raccoon.
Or maybe a deer wandering nearby.
She slowly stepped through the woods, placing one soft paw in front of the other.
Rustle... rustle...
Suddenly, a tiny rabbit bounced out of the grass and disappeared into the bushes.
Paula watched it go.
Not tonight, little rabbit.
As the sky began to grow darker, Paula made her way back to her cubs.
They were awake now and ready to play.
One cub pounced on a leaf.
Another rolled through the grass.
The smallest cub tried out a mighty panther growl...
but all that came out was a tiny squeak.
Paula settled down beside them.
One day, her cubs would lose their spots and grow into big Florida panthers of their own.
But tonight, they were still little.
Paula curled her long tail around them as they snuggled close beneath the trees.
Another day in the Florida Everglades had come to an end.
Fast Facts:
The Florida panther is Florida’s official state animal.
Adult panthers can grow to about 5–7 feet long from nose to tail.
Panther cubs are born with spots, but the spots fade as they grow.
Florida panthers are endangered.
They are most active around dusk and dawn.
Panthers eat animals such as deer, wild hogs, raccoons and rabbits.
A panther’s long tail helps it balance.
The Florida panther and the bobcat are Florida’s only two native wild cats.
