Two highly endangered Florida panthers were found dead from vehicle strikes only two days apart, closing out a particularly deadly year for the species.
The first panther, a 2½-year-old male, was found dead Dec. 21 in rural Highlands County, according to the Panther Pulse database maintained by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Then on Dec. 23, a 4-year-old male was discovered dead from a collision on Interstate 75 in Collier County, bringing the yearly death toll to 35.
This has been the deadliest year for the iconic Florida state animal since 2016, McClatchy News previously reported.
With only about 120 to 230 panthers estimated to be left in the wild, the species is facing an uphill battle against threats such as vehicle strikes, which are the panthers’ leading cause of death, according to the FWC.
Florida panthers roam across a wide range of land , with males sometimes claiming 200 square miles of territory, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says. When roads break up the panthers’ natural habitat, the animals are more susceptible to vehicle collisions.