Related Coverage: Florida Panther died in Pasco County after being attacked by a vehicle on I-75
NAPOLIA, Fla. (WFLA) – Two endangered Florida Panther kittens died in Collier County last weekend, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Board said.
The two kittens are brothers, both female, and were born about three and a half months ago.
The FWC said the kitten was suspected of being found on the side of a busy road in Collier County and killed after being attacked by a vehicle.
Their deaths will bring the total deaths of the Florida Panther this year to a maximum of 12. In 2024 there were 36 documented deaths.
All but one of the recorded deaths this year was caused by the car. It was revealed that a young male Panther had died in March, but the FWC determined that he had been killed by another Panther.
According to the FWC, the vehicle collision is the main cause of death for the Florida Panther. They urged residents to slow down and remain vigilant in the Panther Zones in several South Florida counties, including Collier.
The FWC estimates that there are only about 120-230 Florida Panthers remaining, despite the fact that they were roaming the entire southeastern US
A senior attorney at the Center for Biodiversity said the deaths of the two kittens underscore the importance of wildlife crossings in Panther territory throughout the state.
“It breaks my heart to know that Florida lost two more Panthers, a female kitten that should be allowed to survive, has her own kitten and expands our only struggling population,” Jason Totou said. “If state lawmakers invest in wildlife intersections that give the Panthers a chance to survive, the deaths of these wildlife could be reduced. We hope that the tragic death of a kitten is a wake-up call for ultimately action.”
If they see an injured or dead Panther, the FWC asks them to report it to the 888-404-FWCC (3922) Wildlife Alert Hotline.
