This year is shaping up to be the deadliest for Florida panthers since 2016. Over 10% of the known panther population has died so far, primarily due to vehicle collisions on increasingly busy roads in southwest Florida.

To date, 32 panthers have been killed, with most fatalities occurring as they attempted to cross highways.

Traci Deen, president of the environmental group Conservation Florida, highlights the dire situation. She explains that the remaining habitat for these cats is being severely squeezed by new developments and the roads built to support them.

“The population in Florida is somewhere between 130 to 230. Losing 32 panthers in one year is a tremendous loss to the Florida panther population,” Deen said. “It could represent over 10% of the population in our state. It’s devastating.”

Deen emphasizes that protecting natural lands along migratory routes is crucial for the survival and thriving of panthers. “If we want our state animal to not only survive but thrive now and into the future, land conservation has to be a huge part of that solution,” she said. “We need all Floridians to get involved and support land conservation across the state.”

Another solution Deen suggests is creating highway underpasses that allow animals like the panther to safely migrate along wildlife corridors. Panthers require 200 to 400 square miles to roam, but Florida’s rapid population growth—with 1,000 new residents each day—poses a significant threat.

Preserving the Florida Wildlife Corridor, an 18 million-acre network of green spaces, is one way to protect panthers. Although 10 million acres are protected, 8 million acres are still at risk of development.

Last week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the discovery of a juvenile male Florida panther’s remains in Glades County, likely killed by a vehicle collision.

“This little panther’s tragic death illustrates the dire need for wildlife officials and state lawmakers to save this species before it’s too late,” said Jason Totoiu of the Center for Biological Diversity. “Development keeps eating away at the remaining habitat in southwest Florida, and it’s remarkable this panther made it this far north. It appears this animal tried hard to find safe passage through a narrow strand of habitat only to be hit by a car.”

Totoiu urges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to act on its long-stated vision and work with Florida officials to move panthers north of the Caloosahatchee River. He also calls on state lawmakers to establish dedicated funding for strategically placed wildlife crossings. “Many states have done this already, and Florida needs to follow suit,” he said.

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(Image credit: Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union)