FLORIDA PANTHER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, Fla. — This January, a young Florida panther, designated as UCFP479, was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle on a rural road in southwestern Florida. This incident marked the first vehicular death of the endangered species for the year.
Unfortunately, UCFP479 will not be the last panther to meet such a fate on Florida’s roadways. In the year 2024, state wildlife officials reported a total of 36 panther fatalities, marking the highest number since 2016. The statistics reveal that the majority of these deaths occurred due to collisions with vehicles, with one unfortunate panther being struck by a train.
Currently, between 120 and 230 adult Florida panthers roam the southwestern corner of the state. These creatures are increasingly squeezed by the growing human population and the resulting urban development. Their dwindling habitat places them at greater risk as they navigate the ever-changing landscape.
The Florida panther, a species similar yet smaller to the Western cougar or mountain lion, was once widespread across the southeastern U.S. However, decades of hunting and habitat destruction have significantly reduced their numbers, limiting them to approximately two million acres (809,000 hectares), as per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In eastern Collier and Lee counties, areas once considered rural are now the sites of major development projects that promise tens of thousands of new homes. Alongside this surge in housing comes increased traffic, posing a lethal threat to these big cats.
“We’re at a critical juncture now,” remarked Michael McGrath from the Sierra Club, which recently organized a tour through panther habitat for journalists and environmental activists. “We’re going to see more and more deaths. Sprawl kills.” Environmentalists are fervently advocating to halt or minimize development, promising to persevere in their efforts to protect the panther’s habitat.
“You can see all of that land is primary panther habitat,” explained Amber Crooks, an environmental policy manager with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. “We have to fight until that last decision is made.”
The Florida panther holds the distinction of being the only known population of pumas residing east of the Mississippi River, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Federally protected as an endangered species since 1967, a refuge spanning 26,600 acres (10,700 hectares) was established in 1989 adjacent to the Big Cypress National Preserve, situated to the west of the Everglades.
Efforts to monitor and protect these panthers began in 1981 with state initiatives to capture, check health, administer vaccines, collect genetic samples, and equip them with radio collars for tracking purposes. During the 1990s, the panther population plummeted to approximately 50 animals due partly to inbreeding, which led to a myriad of health complications. To address this, eight female Texas pumas were introduced into Florida to mate with the native males, effectively boosting population numbers and enhancing genetic diversity. These offspring are recognized as Florida panthers and are shielded under the Endangered Species Act.
Typically, Florida panthers resemble the cougars and pumas seen in the American West, characterized by beige or tan fur with white underparts. Their diet mainly consists of prey such as deer and raccoons. Male panthers are known to wander further than females in search of territory, which sometimes leads them to areas like Orlando. In a case dating back to 2008, a male panther was fatally shot by a hunter in Georgia, emphasizing the inherent dangers these animals face.
Aside from vehicular threats, panthers are also susceptible to diseases like feline leukemia, which is transmitted to them by domestic cats. This disease has been known to affect bobcats as well. Wildlife officials reported a feline leukemia outbreak in 2002 that led to the demise of at least five panthers.
There is a rising concern regarding another mysterious disease that causes hind limb weakness in both panthers and bobcats, frequently capturing them moving awkwardly on trail cameras. The Florida wildlife commission urges the public to share any footage or images of wildlife appearing to exhibit rear limb issues.
Interactions within the species can also be deadly; panthers, especially males, sometimes succumb to injuries sustained during fights over territory.
