How did the settlers view panther when they came to north America

They viewed the Panther with fear and set out on a mission to exterminate it.

Explanation:

The first Spanish conquistador to ever sight a Panther was Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca in 1513. When he saw the panther which he referred to as a lion, he was fearful of the animal. He and other Europeans set out on a mission to exterminate all Panthers. This was also necessary as they had to clear the bushes for them to reside.

In 1821 when Florida officially became a part of the United States, and people had to relocate there, a $5 dollar bounty was placed on every Panther killed. The Panthers relocated farther into the wild. As of 1990, the population of the Panther was just around 50. Panthers have since been named an endangered species.