This is the moment a panther was caught on camera making a bizarre caterwaul in Florida.

Dramatic footage shows the female wildcat emitting a high-pitched yowl, seemingly calling for a mate in Collier County.

The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) said: 'During the youth turkey hunt in March, Joel Donaldson and his hunting partners recorded this amazing sighting of a Florida panther.

'The chances of seeing a panther are slim but do you know what to do if you encounter one? The easiest thing to do is give the panther plenty of space – most Florida panthers will avoid people and a confrontation.

'Give them a way to steer clear of you and escape.'

When in heat, female panthers usually use a loud, repetitive, throaty vocalisation to attract mates. Males respond by calling back until they find each other.

The Florida panther is the only subspecies of mountain lion that remains in the eastern United States. The National Wildlife Federation reported that hunting decimated the population severely, and it was one of the first species added to the U.S. endangered species list in 1973.