For the fifteenth time in 2025, an endangered Florida panther was killed by a vehicle strike. This time in DeSoto County, the second reported death in the area since the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission began recording in 2014.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission‘s Panther Pulse website, the 2-and-a-half-year-old male designated as UCFP492 was found on Oct. 29 by Highway 70 near Hansel Avenue, east of Arcadia.
This marks the first death reported in DeSoto County by the FWC for this year.
Since 2014, the FWC has maintained records of panther deaths, depredations, and births of litters.
The only other instance of a panther death reported by FWC in DeSoto County occurred in 2017, where a 2 to 3-year-old male was killed by a vehicle near NE Four Mile Grade, east of Arcadia.
Currently, Collier County is the deadliest regarding panther deaths in 2025, with six reported fatalities by vehicles. Two of the six reported deaths were sister kittens found on Davis Boulevard, both eastbound and westbound on Aug. 10.
One death has been 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.
In 2024, 36 panthers were found dead, 29 due to vehicles; one was struck by a train, two were killed by predation, and four died from unknown causes, marking the second-highest yearly death total recorded by the FWC since 2014.
Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
While directly comparing 2025 to 2024, 26 reported deaths by October last year, with its 26th death occurring on Oct. 27.
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.
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 thrive in their environment, which led to the meticulous decision to purchase the land.
Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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 land owners to purchase the 17 parcels within the Fakahatchee Strand,” said Deen. “These parcels are referred to as inholdings, meaning that its land within the state park’s boundary but were not included within the park itself.”
The nonprofit is located at 137 Coastline Drive in Copeland, an unincorporated community in eastern Collier County.
For more stories on the critically endangered Florida Panther, click down below.
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Nicholas Karsen is a Digital Specialist and has been with WINK News since May 2023.