WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – Wildlife officers confirmed a male Florida panther, estimated to be two or three years outdated, was killed final week by a car on I-75 close to State Street 56 in Wesley Chapel.
What we all know:
It marks the primary recorded panther dying in Pasco County. Usually, panthers hardly ever roam north of Fort Myers resulting from shrinking habitats.
READ: Second osprey dies after getting tangled in fishing line above Tampa canal
By the numbers:
Fewer than 200 Florida panthers are left within the wild, making them critically endangered, in line with wildlife officers.
In 2024, 36 panthers have been killed by autos, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee confirmed. Thus far in 2025, wildlife officers stated there have been 9 roadway deaths.
Why you need to care:
Florida panthers should not solely the state’s official animal, but in addition some of the endangered species within the nation. Every loss is a big blow to efforts to rebuild their inhabitants.
The Supply: This story relies on reporting by FOX 13’s Evyn Moon, who spoke with wildlife consultants at ZooTampa and WildPath. Knowledge on panther populations and roadway deaths comes from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee data.
