Florida Panther

The death toll of Florida panthers for this year continues to rise after the fourth panther death was recorded on March 10. A total of 36 deaths were recorded in 2024.

In 2024, 36 panther deaths were recorded by state wildlife officials, the most since 2016. State statistics show the majority of those deaths resulted from collisions with vehicles including one that was struck by a train.

2024 came with a lot of challenges for the Sunshine State, including multiple hurricanes that threatened coastal communities and a contentious presidential election with many local and state seats up for grabs.

This is becoming the deadliest year since 2016. More than one out of every 10 known panthers have been killed this year — with most trying to cross highways.

The Florida panthers’ numbers dwindled so quickly over the the early 1900s that hunting them was banned in 1958. In 1967, panthers were the first animal to be put on the federal Endangered Species List, and in 1973 the puma, a big cat relative, was named a Florida protected species.

As agriculture gives way to planned developments, many worry the Florida panther is on a path to doom. Environmentalists say planned communities — Kingston in eastern Lee and Bellmar in eastern Collier and both the size of small cities — could hurtle the Florida panther from the Endangered Species List to extinction.

The fate of the Florida panther could be decided by several proposed developments that are in the middle of the planned Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Will the corridor become a reality or will government authorities allow it to be paved over like so many other landscapes in fast-growing Florida?

It was all tied up heading into the third period when the Panthers scored early to take the lead. They scored again when the Lightening pulled their goalie with about 3 minutes remaining.

Florida panthers will be losing more than 10 square miles of Western Everglades in which they currently roam if the builders get their way. Beloved endangered cougars are gaining ground thanks to preservation efforts that are costing taxpayers.

The new design features a striking photograph taken by Carlton Ward in 2018 of the first female panther documented north of the Caloosahatchee River since 1973, along with her kitten.

Opponents of the Town of Big Cypress say it will doom the Florida panther by bringing more people into the animals' domain, creating more traffic to hit and kill more panthers.