Florida Panther Vehicle Mortality

As panthers roam throughout their territory to find food or mates, they must navigate through a deadly network of interstate, state and county roads with varying speed limits and levels of enforcement. One hundred three panthers were killed by vehicles on Florida roads from 1972 through April 2007. Nearly half of all panthers killed on highways have been hit since 2000. With fewer than 100 panthers left, every life counts.

Wildlife Crossings

Panther Dies on Regional Roadway

Tragically 14 panthers have been killed on Florida highways, making a grim new annual road kill morality record only half way through the year.
(July 1, 2007)
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A Sad Encounter

One night professional nature photographer Brian F. Call found a 10-month-old female Florida panther on SR 29 only moments after she had been struck. He took a picture of this and donated use of the photograph for Defenders’ efforts to protect the Florida panther. Read his account and view the photograph at "A Sad Encounter".

Wildlife crossings make room for panthers and other wildlife to cross safely under roads and highways. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has installed several crossings under Interstate 75 and six on SR29, but more are needed on other roads. No panthers have been killed on I-75 since wildlife crossings were installed. Unfortunately, two cats have been killed on SR 29 just inside the fence line. Defenders and Big Cypress Preserve officials are working to have the fence line extended on that road segment.

Reducing Vehicle Mortality

Defenders has developed a short-term strategy to reduce panther deaths on roads as part of its nationwide Habitat and Highways Campaign:

In 2006 we convinced Florida Department of Transportation to construct a wildlife crossing on a deadly stretch of US 41 in Big Cypress Preserve.

  • We are partnering with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to increase public awareness of panther needs.
  • We are encouraging local transportation authorities to increase signage and lower speed limits through panther crossing zones.
  • We are supporting the Panthers & Pavement campaign established in 2004 by The Florida Panther Society, Inc. and the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge.
  • We are partnering with other conservation organizations to incorporate wildlife conservation into transportation planning in southwest Florida.