Escambia Man Reports Possible Florida Panther Sighting on Blackwater Heritage Trail

Escambia County, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- An Escambia County man says he and his nephew had a tense encounter with what they believe was a Florida panther on the Blackwater Heritage State Trail near Milton last month. Tim Mayhair says the large brown cat — about two-and-a-half feet tall and five feet long — walked toward them and followed them for roughly twenty minutes along the trail before they made it to safety. Mayhair called nine-one-one and was connected with Florida Fish and Wildlife. No photo of the animal was taken. Florida panthers are an endangered species with an estimated population of one-hundred-twenty to two-hundred-thirty adults — their core habitat is south of Lake Okeechobee, though they have been documented throughout much of the state.