My name is Madison and I am a current high school senior (soon to be graduate) looking to make a difference in the protection of endangered animals, specifically the critically endangered Florida Panther. I would like to urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make securing habitat and travel corridors for the Florida panther one of its highest priorities. With an estimated 100-160 remaining, the Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals in the U.S. and we have a limited window of time to protect and restore undeveloped tracts of land and provide habitat linkages before they are lost. The elimination of their natural habitat could be devastating to this already endangered species. The protection of their land is invaluable in the fight against extinction. Plans are in the works to build new subdivisions and industrial complexes and several new highways in the rural regions of the state. These highways would run through panther habitat and public conservation lands and lead to even more development and fragmentation. Highway deaths are already the number one human cause of mortality for these endangered animals. Increasing fragmentation of panther's habitat would lead to even more deaths on roads. Last year, a record 19 panthers were struck and killed by motorists, more than in any other year. Scientists believe that loss of panthers on roads is preventing the cats from expanding their breeding range northward. It is time to take a stand and ensure that no more panthers are doomed to this fate.The Fish and Wildlife Service can make sure that enough contiguous habitat remains for these majestic cats to survive and return northward into their historic range. Please help me to urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help prevent the extinction of this magnificent creature. 

Please note that this petition is part of a school project. Information necessary to create this petition was taken from the defenders of wildlife website. I would therefore like to give credit to the defenders of wildlife. If you would like to take steps to help the defenders in their fight to help save endangered species from extinction, please visit their website at, http://www.defenders.org/. Thank you to the defenders for all you are doing to help fight against unnecessary extinction.