Observance guideSource-backed

Save the Florida Panther Day2026 · Date · History · Messages

Florida Statutes designate the third Saturday in March of each year as Save the Florida Panther Day; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also promoted the 21 March 2026 observance.

Moves by calendar ruleReviewed 2026-09-09

About Save the Florida Panther Day

Save the Florida Panther Day is a Florida statutory special observance held on the third Saturday in March to focus public attention on the conservation of the Florida panther and its habitat.

Florida Statutes §683.18 expressly designate the recurring date and allow the Governor to issue an annual proclamation calling on public schools and citizens to observe the occasion.

Why Save the Florida Panther Day matters

The observance connects public awareness with conservation of the Florida panther, a federally protected subspecies whose survival depends on habitat protection, wildlife management and coexistence measures.

It is a state special observance rather than a general paid public holiday, so the statute encourages recognition without closing ordinary government or private workplaces.

History of Save the Florida Panther Day

Florida enacted the observance through section 1 of chapter 90-58, Laws of Florida, identified in legislative records with House Bill 223 in the 1990 session.

The resulting statute, now codified at Florida Statutes §683.18, designates the third Saturday of March every year as Save the Florida Panther Day.

The statute also authorizes an annual gubernatorial proclamation and specifically calls on public schools and citizens to observe the occasion; current refuge and conservation activities continue to use the day for public education.

Origins & establishment

What the evidence establishes

Evidence & sources ↓

Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.

Proclaiming / establishing bodyFlorida LegislatureFlorida law created the recurring state special observance through legislation enacted in the 1990 session.

Original establishing instrument / decisionChapter 90-58, Laws of Florida (House Bill 223)Florida Statutes §683.18 gives its history as section 1, chapter 90-58; the 1990 Senate Journal index identifies House Bill 223 as Save the Florida Panther Day.

7 fields not established in reviewed sources

Originator / proposerThe reviewed legislative materials identify House Bill 223 and chapter 90-58 but do not establish one individual originator for the observance.

Original instrument adoption / decision dateThe reviewed online statute and journal index establish the 1990 chapter and bill but do not provide a sufficiently clear enactment/effective date for this guide.

Current facilitator / coordinatorGovernment agencies, refuges, schools and conservation groups may mark the day, but the statute does not assign one permanent statewide facilitator.

First observanceThe reviewed sources establish the law in 1990 but do not explicitly document the first actual observance.

Former nameNo formal former name is established.

Former dateNo former recurring date is established.

Why this exact date?The statute fixes the third Saturday in March but does not explain why that rule was selected.

Source qualityHigh confidence

2 Primary institutional / legal1 Official organizer

View all sources ↓

How to Observe Save the Florida Panther Day

Learn about Florida panther habitat, movement corridors and the conservation challenges affecting the species.

Visit or support a reputable refuge, conservation program or educational event focused on Florida wildlife.

Use classroom or community activities to explain why habitat connectivity and safe coexistence matter for large carnivores.

Share conservation information from Florida wildlife agencies or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rather than sensational or unverified claims.

Save the Florida Panther Day Facts

Fact 01

Save the Florida Panther Day is observed on the third Saturday in March.

Fact 02

Florida Statutes §683.18 expressly designate the observance.

Fact 03

The statute traces to section 1 of chapter 90-58, Laws of Florida, from the 1990 legislative session.

Fact 04

The Governor may issue an annual proclamation and call on public schools and citizens to observe the day.

Fact 05

The statute creates a special observance; it does not itself establish a general paid holiday.

Save the Florida Panther Day Messages

May Save the Florida Panther Day inspire lasting support for the habitat and conservation work this species needs.

Wishing Florida communities a meaningful day of learning about panthers, wildlife corridors and responsible coexistence.

May today turn appreciation for Florida’s state animal into practical support for science-based conservation.

On Save the Florida Panther Day, may awareness lead to safer landscapes for panthers, people and other native wildlife.

May this observance encourage careful stewardship of the wild places that Florida panthers depend on.

Classification

Topic and context

Animals, Nature & Environment →

Animals, Nature & Environment Nature Environment

Accuracy notes

What this page does not assume

Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.

Evidence

Evidence & sources

Source policy →

Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.

Source 01www.flsenate.gov

Florida Senate — 1990 Senate Journal House Bill index (opens in a new tab)

Primary institutional / legalGuide sources

Source 02www.flsenate.gov

Florida Senate — 2026 Statutes §683.18 (opens in a new tab)

Observance recordPrimary institutional / legalGuide sources

State Statute

Source 03www.fws.gov

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Florida Panther refuge (opens in a new tab)

Observance recordOfficial organizerGuide sources

Federal Agency

Questions & connections

Understand it, compare it, then explore further

Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.

Reader questions

Frequently asked questions

When is Save the Florida Panther Day?

Third Saturday of March (21 March in 2026) The documented recurrence rule is: Third Saturday in March.

Does Save the Florida Panther Day fall on the same date every year?

It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.

Is Save the Florida Panther Day an official public holiday?

Within the reviewed scope, it is identified as Florida, United States / statutory state special observance. That status is not automatically extended to other countries or jurisdictions.

Who established or recognizes Save the Florida Panther Day?

The reviewed sources identify Florida Legislature as the proclaiming or establishing body.

Is Save the Florida Panther Day international or country-specific?

This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: Florida, United States / statutory state special observance.

How is this page verified?

The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.

When is Save the Florida Panther Day?

Florida law designates the third Saturday in March each year.

Is Save the Florida Panther Day established by Florida law?

Yes. Florida Statutes §683.18 designate the recurring observance and trace it to chapter 90-58, Laws of Florida.

Is it a statewide paid public holiday?

The statute treats it as a special observance and encourages recognition; it does not establish a general paid holiday for all workers.

Same date