Florida panther road kills have decreased in 2025, leading some experts to worry the population is declining.
The number of documented panther deaths has fluctuated in recent years, dropping from 36 in 2024 to 15 this year.
Advocates express concern that habitat loss due to development is a major threat to the endangered species.
The official population estimate of 120 to 230 panthers is considered outdated by some critics.
Florida panther road kills are down in 2025 compared to most recent years, and some biologists and big cat advocates worry that the panther population may be on the decline.
Fifteen panther deaths have been documented this calendar year, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission records.
That’s less than half of the number (36) of documented deaths that occurred in 2024.
By comparison, 27 deaths were documented in 2021 and 2022, but that number plummeted to 13 in 2023. Then back up to 36 last year before dropping again this year.
