Florida man finds panther hiding in bushes by his home

NAPLES, Fla. (KABC) -- A Florida man received a big surprise when he ran into a panther in the bushes in a prestigious community Tuesday.

It happened in Naples, Florida and a homeowner said his gardener knocked on the door claiming a tiger was hiding on the side of his home.

Al Djindil and Andrea Cameron, the homeowners, went outside to see what the big cat. What they found was a panther, not a tiger.

"He was wide awake looking around so Al quickly said, 'Andrea, it's a panther - run,'" Cameron said.

The couple kept an eye on the big cat from inside their home until help arrived.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission panther biologist Mark Lotz said he likely swam to the neighborhood from a nearby island and ended up wandering around.

"He just hopped off the wrong end of the island this time and found himself over here," Lotz said. "He was in perfect health, looked real good. He was 74 pounds, about 2 years old."

Officers tranquilized the animal and then collared him. FWC said when the big cat wakes up, he will be released in Picayune Strand State Forest.

"It's a happy ending to the story," Cameron said.

The couple said they will be cautious around the outside of their home for a while.