Car hits Florida panther, 17th death this year.

An automobile struck and killed a Florida panther, raising the overall death toll above 2023.

The 1-year-old male panther was hit on Wednesday, becoming the 17th at-risk animal to die since January, surpassing the previous year’s total of 13, according to a recent article by Alexa Herrera of Tampa Bay 10.

Wildlife officials discovered it along State Road 29 in Collier County, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s database. This is the eleventh one discovered in the county, and the majority are killed by cars.

Panthers are classified as an endangered species, and it is prohibited to hurt or disturb them. According to the commission, mature panthers are often located south of Lake Okeechobee, and the population is limited to up to 230.

The first to be slain this year was a 1-year-old male in Hendry County on January 9, 2024.

The major problem the species faces is habitat loss. According to The Nature Conservancy, new road and highway building, as well as residential and commercial developments, make it difficult for them to locate enough space, prey and mates.

If you find a sick, injured, or dead Florida panther, please report it online, call 888-404-FWC, or text [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Tampa Bay 10