First endangered Florida panther death of 2024 reported after 13 killed last year

Wildlife officials have reported the first endangered Florida panther death of 2024.

The 1-year-old male was found dead Tuesday from an apparent vehicle strike on a rural road north of LaBelle in Hendry County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

A total of 13 Florida panthers were reported killed in 2023, with all of them being from vehicle strikes. Eight of those animals were killed in Collier County and three were found dead in Hendry County. The two others were killed in Glades County.