2 endangered Florida panthers killed by vehicle in Glades, Hendry counties

For the 17th and 18th time in 2025, the endangered Florida panther population has taken another hit, as two vehicle-related deaths have occurred. 

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission‘s Panther Pulse website, a 4-year-old female designated as UCFP495 and a 9-month-old male designated as UCFP496 were discovered on Dec. 11 and Dec. 16.

UCFP495 was found on U.S. 27, 0.7 mi south of Woodward Road in Glades County.

UCFP496 was found on County Road 833, 4.8 miles east of the junction with County Road 846 in Hendry County.

Seventeen of the 18 reported deaths of 2025 by the FWC have been attributed to vehicle strikes. The one outlier was attributed to "intraspecific aggression," which, according to the Center for Academic Research & Training in Anthropogeny, occurs when animals attack members of their species. Typically, this is done as an act of dominance or when resources are scarce, forcing a struggle to improve survival chances. 

When directly comparing 2025 to 2024, 33 deaths were reported by this time in December last year, with the 33rd death occurring on December 10, when a 3-and-a-half-year-old male was killed by a vehicle in Hardee County.

For reference, by December 21, 2024, the FWC reported its 34th panther death, where a 2-and-a-half-year-old male was killed by a vehicle in Highlands County.

According to the FWC, the guiding conservation goal for the Florida panther is to manage this significant wildlife resource for its long-term well-being and the benefit of people. 

There are two ways to purchase a panther plate. 

You can become a first-time panther tag owner or replace your current plate with a new one by visiting your local Tax Collector's office to purchase or renew it in person. 

Renew your existing “Protect the Panther” registration online through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 

Conservation Florida, a leading land conservation nonprofit in Florida, acquired 60.27 acres of land for the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in March. 

This expansion helped panthers thrive in their environment without interacting with people. According to Conservation Florida, male panthers need at least 200 square miles of habitat to succeed in their environment, which led to the meticulous decision to purchase the land.

Traci Deen, President and CEO of Conservation Florida, spoke on the purchase and how it will continue to benefit the non-profit’s goal.

“We worked with the landowners to purchase the 17 parcels within the Fakahatchee Strand,” said Deen. “These parcels are referred to as inholdings, meaning that their land is within the state park’s boundary but was not included within the park itself.”

The nonprofit is located at 137 Coastline Drive in Copeland, an unincorporated community in eastern Collier County.