1-year-old apex predator killed by vehicle in Florida. It’s second death in 2 weeks

A young, endangered Florida predator was hit and killed by a vehicle, marking the second death for the species in less than two weeks.

The latest Florida panther death was a 1-year-old male discovered just south of the Caloosahatchee River in Lee County on March 6, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Most recently, a 10-year-old female was found dead from a vehicle collision in Hendry County on Feb. 24, McClatchy News previously reported.

Only about 200 Florida panthers are estimated to be left in the wild, the FWC’s Wildlife Research Institute shared in a March 3 Facebook post. They live primarily in southwest Florida below the Caloosahatchee River that extends from Lake Okeechobee out to the gulf in Fort Myers.

Juvenile male panthers such as the roughly 1½ -year-old animal that died are more susceptible to vehicle strikes than other members of their species, with panthers under 3 years old representing about 70% of all road kills, according to the FWC.

“Males have larger home ranges than females, and their ranges often include roads,” FWC officials said. “Young male panthers searching for their own ranges often end up crossing roads more frequently than adult panthers.”

At 1½ years of age, panthers can take down some larger prey such as hogs or deer, but they typically hunt armadillos, raccoons and other small animals, experts say. By 2 years old, most panthers have left their mothers.

The FWC advises motorists to drive with caution in areas where panthers live and to report panther sightings to the agency.

Lee County includes the Fort Myers metropolitan area.

This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM with the headline "1-year-old apex predator killed by vehicle in Florida. It’s second death in 2 weeks."