Endangered Florida Panther Struck, Killed By Vehicle On I-75

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The body of a Florida panther was found on I-75 in Lee County near Ft. Myers.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the three year old panther died after it was struck by a vehicle.

This is the 14th panther death of the year, the nineth to be killed by a vehicle.  In comparison, in 2013 there were 20 deaths for the year.

The remains will be taken to the FWC Wildlife Research Lab in Gainesville for a complete necropsy.

Florida panthers once roamed the entire southeastern U.S., but only around 160 remain in the wild.