Birdwatching is a $36B business

Most wildlife watchers already know that their hobby is big business. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service backs that up with a new report that shows birdwatchers contribute $36 Billion to our economy.

That's a lot of money, but it didn't surprise me. I was surprised, though, to see the birding participation rate is only 17% in Florida. (The national average is 21%.) However, 79% of residents say they are birdwatchers. Go figure.

Florida has great birdwatching!

Check out the report – Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis.

Could I have seen a Florida panther?

A reader writes:

"Hello, Are there Florida panthers in central-western Florida? I live in Tampa in a very woodsy area and spotted a panther. I know it may not sound believable, but it was around 8 pm and still bright out. It was in plain sight, and we had a few minutes of staring at each other before my barking dog scared it off. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks, Marsha"

Most of the time when people think they see a panther, they really see a bobcat, experts say. That's because there are fewer than 100 Florida panthers living in the state, and most of them are in southwestern Florida. However, even though it's not likely, it's possible you saw a panther. Florida panthers have been known to cross I-4. Some residents as far north as Daytona Beach think they have seen a panther around. Panthers can roam quite far.

Visit the News-Press Web site to track collared Florida panthers.