500th uncollared Florida panther death reported since FWC began tracking in 2014

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.—Since the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission began recording litters, deaths, and depredations of the Florida panther in 2014, 500 deaths have been reported.

On Tuesday, the FWC’s Panther Pulse website updated its death counter, displaying that uncollared Florida panther 500, a 5-to-6-year-old female, was killed by a vehicle strike on State Road 82, 0.32 miles east of Church Road in Collier County. 

This death marks the fourth time a Florida panther has been killed in 2026. Since the year began, three out of the four recorded deaths occurred in Collier County, all vehicle strikes.

The sole outlier was in late January, when a 2-and-a-half-year-old male was killed by a vehicle on Interstate 4, 200 yards east of County Line Road, Exit 25 in Polk County.

According to Panther Pulse’s 2025 records, Collier County was the deadliest area for the endangered animal, accounting for seven of the 18 reported deaths that year.

Since 2014, the FWC has maintained records of panther deaths, depredations, and litter births.

In early February, Panther Pulse reported the birth of a female kitten, designated as K528 at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.

Historically, Florida panthers typically give birth to between one and two kittens, with a gestation period of approximately three months

This grim milestone further emphasizes the need for conservation, for which several methods are available for those interested in supporting preservation efforts. 

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.