Naples, Fl.(Florida News Network)-Collier County Sheriff Community Service Deputy Brandi Ahrens had a close encounter of the panther kind Friday morning. Deputy Ahrens was typing a report in her work vehicle along the CREW Bird Rookery Swamp public hiking trail off Shady Hollow Boulevard around 8:30 a.m. when she saw something moving out of the corner of her eye. It was a Florida panther, and it was heading her way. CSD Ahrens rolled up her window but managed to take a quick video in the process. The Florida panther is an endangered species and catching a glimpse of one in the wild is a rare experience. There are only 120 to 130 Florida panthers left in the wild, according to the National Wildlife Federation
Credit: Collier County Sheriff's Office