HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. — A young Florida panther found dead last week in Hendry County marks the fifth panther death reported in 2025, according to updated data released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The male cub, estimated to be four to five months old, was found on March 28 in the Brown Grade area, south of County Road 846. The suspected cause of death was intraspecific aggression, the term used when one panther kills another.
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The latest update to the FWC’s Panther Pulse web page also includes four other panther deaths reported earlier this year, three of which were reportedly caused by vehicle collisions. The deaths occurred in Collier County, Lee County, and Hendry County:
- On March 10, a 4- to 5-month-old male panther (UCFP482) was found dead on State Road 29 in Collier County, 1.6 miles north of the junction with SR 82
- On March 6, a 1.5-year-old male (UCFP481) was struck on State Road 80 in Lee County, about 0.9 miles west of the Townsend Canal
- On February 24, a 10.5-year-old female (UCFP480) was killed on County Road 833 at the intersection with McDaniels Ranch Road in Hendry County
- On January 10, a 1.75-year-old male (UCFP479) was killed on Immokalee Road in Collier County, two miles east of Oil Well Grade Road
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Vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for Florida panthers. The FWC urges motorists to drive cautiously and obey posted speed limits in designated panther zones across South Florida, where panthers are known to cross roadways.
“These zones are critical for the safety of both wildlife and drivers,” the agency stated.
According to the FWC, 36 panther deaths were reported in 2024.
Panthers are a federally endangered species. Residents can support conservation efforts by purchasing a “Protect the Panther” specialty license plate, which the FWC said remains the primary source of funding for its panther research and management programs.
The FWC encourages the public to report dead or injured panthers by calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
