31 endangered Florida panthers killed so far in 2024

Another endangered Florida panther has been slain by a vehicle on Interstate 75 in Collier County.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Panther Pulse website, the government agency has been tracking panther deaths since 2017, remarking the highest number of reported deaths being 30.

On Nov. 29, the record was broken, as a 9-year-old male, identified as K446, was killed at mile marker 62 of I-75, incrementing the total recorded deaths to 31.

This is the fourth time in 2024 that the endangered cat was killed via vehicles on I-75.

• RELATED: Florida panther struck by vehicle in Collier County; 27th death in 2024
• RELATED: Enrollment opens for ranchers to join Florida Panther Ecosystem pilot program
• RELATED: Endangered Florida panther killed by vehicle on SR-29 SB in Collier County; 30th death in 2024

The FWC began recording the litter, deaths, and depredations in 2014, and the highest reported amount of panther deaths happened in 2015 and 2016, which are tied at 42 panther deaths.

In 2017, the FWC estimated the population size to be between 120 and 230; however, accurately determining the population is impossible because of constant births and deaths and the limitations of survey methods.

FWC reports vehicle strikes are the most common cause of death for Florida panthers.

In August, a litter of kittens, one male and two females, was born at the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest.

Unfortunately, the male and one female kitten were predated in Hendry County in early September, both at the Okaloacoochee Slough WMA.

Twenty-four of the 31 panthers found dead in 2024 were due to vehicles; one was struck by a train, two from predation, and four died from unknown causes.

Driving the posted speed limits, especially in Panther Crossing zones, can help keep Florida’s state animals safe.

Click here to learn more about Panther Crossing zones. 

The FWC created a program to help conserve endangered species by enlisting landowners’ assistance for the Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services pilot program.

According to the FWC, the program will benefit private landowners and the panther population by providing per-acre payments for habitat conditions that support panther conservation and landscape connectivity.

The eligibility period has since passed; however, programs like the one listed above have become vital in keeping the endangered cat’s existence.

For more information, refer to the FWC’s Panther Pulse website.

Early reporting noted this was a record-breaking year. This story has since been corrected to note the record stands at 42 deaths in 2016.