Florida Panther Depredation Compensation Pilot Program

Pays commercial cattle ranchers for calves killed, or fatally injured, by Florida panthers. An FWC investigator must evaluate panther involvement during a site visit; payment without a carcass is possible with adequate field sign. The payment rate is pegged to statewide feeder-steer auction prices, with a 6-month rolling-average price floor.

• All commercial cattle ranchers are eligible (rack card: "All commercial cattle ranchers are eligible.")

• Loss must be a fatal or ultimately fatal panther depredation

• Suspected panther involvement must be evaluated by an experienced investigator during a site visit

• Compensation without a carcass is possible if adequate field sign and circumstantial evidence exist

Payment is calculated by multiplying the average steer weaning weight by the statewide weekly maximum value for a 450-495-pound feeder steer, grades Medium and Large 1. A price floor based on a rolling 6-month average of auction prices provides the minimum payment level. Pilot program.

Published amounts: Payment rates are an approximation of weaned steer value, regardless of calf sex and weight at time of loss, and are tied to statewide auction prices when the depredation occurs. As of April 3, 2026, the program has offered payments ranging from $1,358.50 to $3,112.20 since its statewide launch in October 2023.

Call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) (or #FWC / *FWC on a cell phone) to report a suspected panther depredation, or report online. Per the rack card, "FWC approval is integrated into the field investigation" with no additional application process.

Deadline text on the page: Statewide launch in October 2023; no deadline - compensation follows an FWC field investigation of a reported depredation.