COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. -- A female Florida panther has been found dead along State Road 29, south of Immokalee, the 39th total panther death recorded in 2016.
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, the 2-year-old female was found Tuesday, two miles north of Oil Well Road, and 7 miles south of Immokalee.
This is the 31st vehicle-related death of a panther this year, topping last year's record total by one.
According to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, these deadly vehicle collisions are on the rise. They report that over the past five years, annual panther roadkills went from 9 to over 30. The average number of fatal vehicle strikes went from 13 per year during the late 2000’s to an average of 24 per year over the last five years.
You can report injured or dead panthers to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
