One of the less known parts of DuPuis is the Powerline Grade along the eastern perimeter. A one way trip is 13 miles long and can be traveled on foot, bike, horse, or car. As the name implies, the shellrock road parallels high tension power lines running south from the FPL Indiantown plant. The southern half of the road runs between a canal (with many resident alligators) and the adjacent Corbett WMA. You may also see otters, deer, birds and various Florida fauna. Bringing your camera is recommended. Happy caching!
The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is a subspecies of cougar native to Florida. It is the only cougar remaining in the eastern United States and seriously endangered. It has been reduced to about 5% of its natural range which is almost entirely within Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades National Park, and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. The entire wild population may have as low as 20 in the 1970s and has increased to a current population of 100-160. They have been illegal to hunt since 1958. They are threatened by habitat loss, automobile collisions, and lack of genetic diversity.
Adult have a solid tan coat with a white underbelly, although they are born with spots. Males are larger than females. While lone male panthers will sometimes range far outside their primary range, the breeding population is very slow to expand its range. Florida panthers are carnivores, preying on small mammals, birds, deer, hogs, and occasionally alligators.
Since 1982, the Florida panther has been Florida's state animal. It is also the mascot of the NHL's Florida Panthers.