Record Florida Panther Deaths In 2014
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A bad year for the endangered population of Florida panthers as 2014 was the deadliest year on record--most of which were killed by motor vehicles.
The official figures, posted Tuesday by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), shows a 50-percent increase in deaths, with more than a third females of kitten-bearing age.
In 2014, there were a total of 30 panther deaths in the wild. In 2012, 27 large cats were killed.
The majority of panther deaths, according to PEER, are a result of collisions with motor vehicles.
The numbers reflect the habitat of southwest Florida– 27 of 30 deaths occurred in just three counties (Collier, Lee and Hendry) and the majority of which (17) were caused by vehicles.
Panther mortality of 2014 could represent as much as one-fourth of the entire population which the FWC estimates is between 100 and 180 animals.
"The management of the Florida panther is biology by body count," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that FWC figures also show 32 kittens born this year, but the survival rate of panther kittens is low. This means that panther deaths are likely to exceed replacement from new litters. "The true condition of the Florida panther today remains what biologists call a 'SWAG'– a scientific wild-ass guess."
The Florida panther has been listed as an endangered species for more than 40 years.
"In South Florida, the panther literally is a speed bump to sprawling development," Ruch added. "Many believe we have already reached the tipping point where a viable population of Florida panther can no longer exist in the wild and the future of this alpha-predator is as a zoo species."
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