Young Female Panther Struck, Killed In Lee County

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A female Florida panther was struck and killed by vehicle early Tuesday morning in Lee County.

Florida Fish and Wildlife said the panther was hit around 4:30 a.m. on I-75 near mile marker 122. They estimate the panther was only three to four years old.

So far in 2016, 18 Florida panthers have been found dead, all but two were killed by vehicles.

Florida panthers once roamed the entire southeastern U.S., but only around 180 remain in the wild.