A 3-year-old female Florida panther, cataloged as UCFP505, was found dead on June 19 in Collier County. The suspected cause of death was a collision with a vehicle.
Vehicle Collisions a Leading Cause of Death
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), vehicle collisions are the primary cause of death for the endangered Florida panther. The state has established designated panther speed zones in several South Florida counties to mitigate this issue.
The FWC is asking the public to report any sightings of injured, sick, or dead panthers immediately by calling the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). Prompt reporting allows panther biologists to respond to situations in a timely manner and gather crucial research data.
The state’s panther research and management programs depend heavily on public contributions, including fees collected from sales of the ‘Protect the Panther’ specialty license plate.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
