Florida panthers may move farther north in state GAINESVILLE (AP) - The endangered Florida panther may have been pulled back from the brink of extinction, but its growing population is running out of room to roam. Breeding programs with the Florida panther's imported cousin, the Texas puma, have helped to revive the population from a low of around 30 two decades ago to an estimated 140 today. The panther population isn't out of the woods yet, but with those numbers rebounding, efforts to save the tawny predator have shifted focus to preserving what remains of their existing habitat in Southwest Florida and looking at opening new areas further north. "Habitat management and road structures to limit mortality are the next step," said Jeff Hostetler, a scientist at the Smithsonian Institution who did research on ef- forts to revive the Florida panther population while he was a graduate student at the University of Florida. In a paper published in the Journal of Animal Ecology last year, Hostetler and his col- leagues showed how in- troducing the Texas puma into the Florida panther population succeeded in saving the population from extinction at least temporarily. Their paper was runner- up for the Elton Prize in Ecology, awarded by the British Ecological Society each year. "A Cat's Tale: The Impact of Genetic Restoration on Florida Panther Population Dynamics and Persistence" shows the success of the genetic restoration efforts in 1995, when eight female Texas pumas were released into Florida panther habitat. The theory was that the more vigorous Texas DNA would mix with the severely inbred stock of the isolated group of Florida panthers and help to eliminate debilitating defects. The panther population grew by about 4 percent a year, their research showed. Furthermore, they estimated that without the genetic restoration program, the Florida panther popula- tion would have shrunk by about 5 percent a year. Without the genetic restoration program, the Florida panther ran a high risk of extinction. Even so, Hostetler said, scientists estimate there is still a 6 percent chance of extinction over the next 100 years unless they can prevent further habitat degradation and loss. Before European settlers came to the southeastern United States several hun- dred years ago, the Florida panther roamed from the southern tip of the state all the way to the western border of Louisiana where it butts up to Texas. Those early settlers hunted the animal down, driving it deeper and deeper into the southwestern Everglades around Fort Myers and Naples. That remaining habitat has been lost to human development. These days the panther is confined to barely enough land and wildlife to support the existing population, scientists say. There is some buzz being generated about discussions to reintroduce the panthers back into North Florida, said Jaclyn Lopez, staff attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. The idea comes with serious concerns fear of livestock and pets being attacked primary among them, along with the competition with hunters for prey like deer and wild hogs. "We haven't had big cats this far north in a while," said Lopez, who recently organized and led a symposium on the Florida panther at UF's Levin College of Law. But research has shown it is possible. Chris Belden, the Florida Panther Recovery coordi- nator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said an experiment in 1993-95 introducing mountain lions into the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was successful. The mountain lions were a proxy for the Florida panther. I NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE Man driving wrong way causes fatal highway crash TAMPA (AP) -An elderly man driving southbound in a north- bound 1-75 highway lane crashed into another car, killing himself and the other driver in Hamilton, County. The accident just before midnight Friday created a five-car pileup involving a Greyhound bus en route to Atlanta from Tampa. Some 13 passengers were treated for minor injuries. Florida Highway Patrol officials say 91-year-old Ernest Lee Holmes of High Springs, Fla., was driving a 1993 Buick Century when he crashed into 55-year-old Peter J. Linek, of Ormond Beach. Linek was driving his Ford Explorer northbound in the correct direction. Both men died. Two other vehicles were snared in the wreck be- sides the bus. One carried five children, but there were no other injuries. Greyhound sent a replacement bus to take the passengers to Atlanta. South Fla doctor given 6 years in pill mill case WEST PALM BEACH(AP) -A U.S. District judge in West Palm Beach has sen- tenced a South Florida doctor to more than six years in prison on money laundering charges re- lated to her prescription of millions of oxycodone pills and other narcotics. The case against 43-year- old Cynthia Cadet was part of a broad 2010 investigation into "pill mill" clinics. Another doctor, 74-year-old Joseph Castronuovo, received a year and a half behind bars. Both doctors plan to appeal Friday's ruling. Last year a federal judge cleared the doctors of causing patients to fatally overdose. Both doctors were in- volved with the American Pain clinics in Broward and Palm Beach counties and were the only physi- cians in the case to reject plea deals. Prosecutors said the clinics were one of the nation's biggest illicit pre- scription drug operations. Nightclub cleared after teen falls through ceiling ORLANDO (AP) - Authorities say about 800 patrons were cleared from an Orlando nightclub after a teen crawling on a drop ceiling fell through the tiles. Orlando police say 19-year-old Justin Ponce was found on a set of stairs at the Roxy night- club early Friday morn- ing, bleeding from his head with what appeared to be a broken leg. The club was cleared before firefighters could determine the damage was only to the drop ceil- ing. Metal pieces that held the tiles had been pulled down from the wall near the bar. The damage was estimated to be between $4,000 and $5,000. Ponce was taken to a nearby hospital, so police couldn't immediately find out why he was in the ceiling. His condi- tion was unknown, but he could face criminal charges. 3 injured in crash with school bus WESLEY CHAPEL (AP) - Authorities say three people were injured after their car collided with a Tampa Bay area school bus. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that 56-year-old James Yant Jr. was preparing to get on an Interstate 75 onramp Thursday afternoon when he turned in front of a Pasco County school bus. The bus hit the passenger side of the 2000 Mazda 626. FHP says Yant and his passengers 23-year-old Felicia Smith and 27-year- old FrederickWhiting -were taken to a Tampa hospital with serious injuries. Two adults in the bus weren't injured. Four Wesley Chapel High School students sustained minor injuries and were released from the scene to their parents. FHP says charges are pending. Woman accused of dragging biker sentenced NAPLES (AP) -A Lee County judge has accept- ed a no contest plea in a DUI manslaughter case from a woman who fatally dragged a motorcyclist for nearly 3 miles. Donna Brown entered the plea on Friday. Brown was charged with DUI manslaughter, damage to a person and property, leaving the scene of a crash involving death and driving under the influence. Brown will serve eight years in prison, two years of house arrest, eight years of probation and her driver's license will be permanently revoked. Charlotte County Chamber RIBBON CUTTING THURSDAY, F...4 APRIL 10 TH [r @5:30PM "PACK THE SACK" Come visit our new studio COMMERCIAL WEDDING BEACH FAMILY AND MORE "Experienced Children's Photographer" Bring can(s) of food for the otte County Homeless Coalition and receive a 8x10 per sitting/per family ren/pets must be photographed with adult. tional collections available with this offer. 2605 Tamiami Trail, Unit 1 Port Charlotte, FL 33952 www.premierphotographicevents.com steve@premierphotographicevents.com of America I premier holographic Events, uc P 941.249.4047 CO Ll~a Page 4 WIRE www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun /Sunday, April 6,2014 STATE NEWS