Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Culture

70% of Recorded Florida Panther Deaths in 2021 Have Been Caused by Vehicles

According to the latest data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 70% of recorded deaths of the Florida panther this year are due to vehicular strikes. Florida’s largest wild cat species, the panther is critically endangered, but has been making a slow and steady comeback since numbers sunk to just 20 individuals in the 1970’s. As of 2021, most estimates place the present day population at around 200.

The current data on FWC’s “Panther Pulse” table lists 20 recorded panther deaths in 2021, 14 of which have ‘vehicle’ as the listed cause. Two more deaths are listed as having been starvation, another two from intraspecific aggression, and the remaining two as having unknown causes. In 2020, 19 out of 22 recorded deaths were vehicle-related.

ADVERTISEMENT

A 2018 graph detailing the range of the Florida panther. ⓒ Florida Fish & Wildlife

Existing Florida panther populations are concentrated primarily in Collier, Lee, and Hendry counties, with individuals also appearing in other nearby South Florida areas. There have been confirmed panthers as far north as St. Johns County, as reported by FWC in 2018. Flagler County is an area considered to have possible panther activity.

The Florida panther is a documented subspecies of cougar, also known as the mountain lion or puma. The cougar is an abundant species from the bottom tip of South America all the way upward into Canada. Their North American range is presently limited to the western United States, with the sole exception of the Florida panther.

The subspecies was once severely threatened by lack of genetic diversity, causing inbreeding and an increased occurrence of birth defects which slowed population growth. Eight panthers were introduced from Texas in the mid-1990’s, successfully widening the gene pool and fueling a gradual rebound in population numbers. Habitat destruction has also played a role in preventing the panther population from growing further.

Even with the relatively small numbers of panthers left in wild Florida, owners of livestock in the southern part of the state have to frequently deal with issues of panther predation. One Seminole rancher estimated 5%-7% of his yearly calf crop are taken by panthers in a quote given to NPR. He even went on to describe panthers having begun drifting into residential communities, as an effect of gradual habitat loss in the area.

Along with the bobcat, the Florida panther is one of the only wild cat species in the eastern United States. ⓒ Sierra Club

For Flagler County residents, the chances of sighting a Florida panther is certainly not as high as it is in Collier County, but it’s not an impossible scenario. While breeding populations are exclusively limited to the southwest part of the state, male panthers in search of their own territory are not uncommonly sighted throughout the state and even occasionally into Georgia.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asks all Florida residents who spot a panther to report their sighting online at this link, by calling 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922), or by emailing Tip@MyFWC.com.

Written By

Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. TR

    August 19, 2021 at 5:12 pm

    They are great animals to look at from a safe distance. This past Dec. I had the pleasure of seeing one of these walking down the middle of my street in the R section. It was pretty cool seeing it.

    • AP

      August 20, 2021 at 8:18 am

      They are here in Flagler, but please keep panther sighting quiet or some gun happy idiot will kill them. I lived in another panther (cougar) area in another state and we coexisted without any problems.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

You May Also Like

Crime

BUNNELL – For the second time in recent weeks the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has taken action against one of their own for an...

Science

A new report finalized by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission has named watercraft collisions the leading cause of unnatural death in manatees, as...

Culture

FLAGLER BEACH – An exciting development for local conservationists went down Monday, as a pair of right whales made an appearance off the coast...

Culture

Atlantic anglers take notice: all recreational harvesting of groupers in shallow waters will be closed from this Sunday, January 1st, through to May 1st,...

Science

MIAMI – The 2022 Florida Python Challenge was kicked off in South Florida on Friday, marking the start of one of the state’s most...