'Friends' still work to protect Florida's panthers

First, the panther isn't black.

It is brown.

Due to overhunting and reduction of white-tailed deer, the panther's primary prey, the panther population is less than 100.

The panther once roamed the Southeast, from Texas to the Atlantic, but now lives only in South Florida.

The panther's greatest threat is the loss and fragmentation of its habitat.

The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 to protect the panther and its habitat. The Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge is the official support group to promote a better understanding of the refuge and its panther population.

Unfortunately, the Friends have become as endangered as the panther.

Tom Murray, its president, brought together more than 25 people, many in related environmental fields, to discuss avenues of increasing membership and gaining key volunteers to support the organization's objectives on June 13.

Brad Cornell of the Florida Audubon Society discussed pathways to recruiting volunteers. He said across the county nonprofit organizations were having a difficulty in filling board spots.

He said the best way to recruit was asking directly. He reported on a survey that showed 44 percent of all boards and its volunteers come through direct invitations. Another 31 percent come by someone participating in an organization's activity.

Murray said the meeting brought 41 names from attendees for future contact. With each name they identified strengths and talents.

Layne Hamilton, Refuge manager, said the refuge has lost 60 positions through budget cuts in the past two years. And another 10 percent of the 700 employees is expected this year.

"With the funding cuts we can only pay our fixed costs," she said. "Taxpayers are paying us to manage the refuge. It is people like you (Friends) who can help get things done that we don't have the means to do."

In speaking of volunteers, she said, "Over and over we hear the need for volunteers, but don't just get warm bodies, get people who can get the job done."

Coordinators and volunteers are needed for membership, public relations, trail volunteers, outreach, adult education, children's education, speakers bureau, part-time staff, advocacy and more.

Keith Laakkonen, resource management coordinator for Rookery Bay National Estuarine, was among attendees.

"I'm here on my own. We have a Friends group at Rookery Bay and I understand how hard it is to get things done," he said. "I want to help these dedicated people. This really gets to the heart of protecting the refuge and the panther. I was born and raised in Southwest Florida and I know these panthers have nowhere else to go. They are being pushed and squeezed out. I am an experienced biologist just wanting to help out. If I can assist in some way that's what I want to do -helping will be great for me."

Murray rated the meeting as "terrific. We wanted to come out of meeting with potential volunteers who we can approach and some will join the fight. We received 41 names, double number I expected, and many good ideas."

The meeting was held at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

"They made the room available to us and we learned that we may be able to fill a niche by folding them into our educational presentations," he said.

Murray expects contacts will be made to see if prospects from the list will be able to attend the next Friends meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, June 26 at the Refuge Conference Room in the Comfort Inn, 3860 Tollgate Boulevard, near Collier Boulevard and Davis Boulevard.

To learn more about the organization, go to floridapanther.org.