Another Endangered Florida Panther Struck, Killed By Vehicle

PALMDALE, Fla. (CBSMiami/AP) — Less than two weeks into the new year and another endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle.

It's the second panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of two total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The remains of the 3-year-old male panther were found Sunday along a rural road southeast of Palmdale in Glades County, wildlife officials said.

A total of 27 Florida panthers were found dead last year, with 21 deaths attributed to vehicles, according to state records. That was up from 22 total deaths in 2020.

Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.