Watch a Florida Panther Pass Within Inches of a Hiker
Encounters with the endangered species are rising as they make a slow comeback, though scientists stress the big cats have more to fear from us.
Wisconsin resident Tina Dorschel was enjoying a hike along a boardwalk in a nature sanctuary in the Naples, Florida, area this week when she received quite a surprise. A Florida panther ran right past her on the path, and she got the whole thing on video.
Dorschel uploaded the footage to social media Tuesday, recording the encounter from a visit to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
"The panther was surprised and frightened, but it went about its business, so there was no harm and no foul on anyone's part," says Luke Dollar, a conservation biologist who helps manage National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative. "It was a very special encounter."
Dollar adds that Dorschel appeared to act appropriately around the big predator. She didn't run,