This is similar to the Sierra Club one; since I write professionally, it's basically just edited - the idea is to get it to more people, along with phoning.

Save the Panthers:
http://www.change.org/actions/view/florida_panthers_need_help

Change.org is a popularity contest with zillions of petitions, so the idea is to get it in the front pages where people will sign - I did that with only a couple hundred for another petition, mainly by chain reaction and people reposting, etc., but it's really tough, and I'm not in those groups now.   Feel free to repost the whole thing as a petition other places too, this is just what I'm more familiar with.

It turns out Salazar is the person to reach; he's done well before, protecting habitat in Oregon, apparently it's a question of what he's been bought for, and the panthers' habitat needs wouldn't conflict with energy interests.  Enough people raising their voices for the panthers is the key thing.

Here's the whole letter, since it doesn't show at Change.org:

 Dear Secretary Salazar,

I’m writing because of my profound concern for the critically endangered Florida panthers; there are only 100 or less Florida panthers in the eastern United States, and they’re the only big cats left there at all.  Top predators, like Florida panthers, are incredibly crucial for ecologies as a whole, and many other species depend on them for their well being, as does the health of related ecosystems; their role is so integral that they’re also called a keystone or umbrella species. 

Cougars are naturally the most widely ranging non-human land mammals in the western hemisphere, but now, although they’ve been brought back from the brink of extinction in western states, our nation’s ecology as a whole, and particularly the lives of future generations, are incomparably impoverished by the high risk of extinction our Florida panthers are facing. 

The answer for Florida panthers lies in designated critical habitat, as was amended to the ESA after they were declared endangered; habitat is usually a tremendous concern for endangered species, but is much more directly related to the Florida panthers’ situation.  A 2000-2005 boom in local development, thankfully now in a slump, is the cause of their dire need now, with many killed while crossing highways. 

Cougars are considered by wildlife scientists to be one of the species most likely to cohabit well with humans, because of their extremely elusive and peaceful nature (nearly all reported cougar “sightings” are false).  Certainly this doesn’t change the need for habitat, and as beloved as the Florida panther is, the danger is very serious unless habitat is designated for them.

Current decisions about opening protected public lands, can provide an opportunity, to protect enough land for the Florida panthers to be allowed to come back to sustainable numbers.  Clearly, with only enough population to range on five percent of their original habitat, this need is urgent; I ask that you please give doing so your best consideration, and provide the habitat the panthers need. 

Our nation, and its children, couldn’t be more greatly blessed, than by the protection of our remaining, and historically revered, big cats.  The habitat Florida panthers have now, is the bare minimum needed for survival, yet declining numbers due to highway deaths show that it’s really not enough; please, I urge you in the strongest possible terms, make sure the Florida panthers have the habitat they need to restore their population and stay with us.   

   

  
 

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Signed, and forwarded.

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Thank you for signing the petition "Florida Panthers Need Help"

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Signed and xposted. TY

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Please sign if you  have not done so already.

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Thank you for signing the petition "Florida Panthers Need Help"

signed !

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Excellent! Thank you Tina for signing.

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signed!

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Signed and forwarded on, thank you.

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Have Signed

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signed off- good job

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Excellent Debbie.  Thank you.

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Please sign if you have not done so already.

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