Florida Panther Encounter in the Big Cypress area of the Everglades

136,418

1,111 0

Published 2017-04-30

This took place about 2 miles north of Alligator Alley (I-75) in the Big Cypress area of the Florida Everglades. I was fishing with my Brother when two Florida Panthers came out of the brush and wanted to cross the old bridge I was fishing on. Florida Panther sightings and other Everglades wildlife are fairly common if you pay attention. This was the longest Florida Panther encounter encounter I have ever had and lasted about 5 minutes. Both cats were not wearing tracking collars and I feel because they did not feel threatened (and neither did I!) it lasted much longer than most. TheOutdoorsGuy.com

All Comments (21)

@benbenftw6048 3 years ago

Panther to Panther: "This dude is fucking up our whole route"
@thereturningshadow 6 years ago

I believe they were waiting for you to go away so they could cross the bridge.
@bobbydelacroix1515 3 years ago

Seeing one is rare, but TWO??? That is something to cherish (lol after you get to safety though)
@EllaSade14 6 years ago

Oh my god you NEVER see two together, this is incredible
@vfmc77 3 years ago

To think that behind all those trees and bushes lurks these amazing endangered creatures. I hope to see one one day. Incredible
@teo4029 2 years ago

breathtaking! can't imagine how cool this was to experience in person, so dope
@FingerGamers3 5 years ago

You're really lucky man, I've lived in Florida my whole life and been to the Everglades multiple times and I have never seen a wild Florida panther.
@sugardaddylifestyle 7 years ago

Very cool encounter.... I have yet to see one Florida Panther in the wild and those guys acted as if they were long lost friends!
@SuperUncleRyan 6 years ago

So cool. I get excited about the one I saw while fishing, but to see a pair...wow.
@zipmegolden 3 years ago

They wanted to cross the bridge, but the troll wouldn't let them, so them ran away! 😄
@MissesNoitall 3 years ago

Beautiful. I’m glad you got your face in there. No one would believe you. Truly an amazing experience. Congratulations
@septemberquest6393 4 years ago

Wow...rare sighting!..looks like they were being cautious or waiting til you vacate the area!!!🐱🐱🐱
@claudetteking1039 6 years ago

Wow! So incredible! Thank you so much for sharing 🦁
@matthewowens455 4 years ago

Looks like a breeding pair good!
@r.shknbake1114 3 years ago

“ So.. Grandpa, tell us again how you lost part of your scalp and the left side of buttock again? “
@victoriarubarski4219 4 years ago

It made me so happy to see two together!! <3
@indianriverboil8218 5 years ago

You should have backed off and let them pass. Dumb move.
@johntetreault4491 3 years ago

You were fortunate to see two together, this time of year likely a breeding pair, I have only seen Cougars twice in the wild both encounters were in New Hampshire over 30 years ago. Both sighting were fleeting sightings and I only saw them for a moment. Florida cougars are even more rare than they are in New England.
@foxyandlucy6392 3 years ago

Kinda funny he was taking small steps as they were walking away. But he stopped on a dime and started to retreat when the bigger one plopped on the ground for a small rest. I guess his balls ran away from him at that moment😂😂
@kaswhite1380 1 year ago

I am one of those too which are very lucky to have seen a Florida Panther in the wild. It was quite a number of years ago that my two kids and their Mom was driving along the road to Flamingo in Everglades National Park. It was in the fall and there were no other cars on this road. So any way as we were driving along all at once this big " cat " slowly up over side of the road and then across the road and down the other side. There was no mistake about it , it was a Florida Panther. We were dumb founded and so lucky.