Florida Panther Hit and Killed on I-75
Saturday, Dec 19, 2009 | Updated 9:39 AM EST
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services
Florida panthers have experienced some growth but are not yet recovered.
A Florida panther was killed by a vehicle on Interstate 75 in Broward County, near Snake Road and the Broward-Collier county line.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that the driver involved in Thursday morning's crash was unable to see the young adult male panther until it was too late to slow down.
"It basically ran out in front of the vehicle,'' said Sgt. Mark Wysocky, spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol.
Though much of I-75 is fenced on both sides to prevent wildlife from entering into the roadway, the area where the accident occured was not fenced. Darrell Land, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's panther team leader, said he would be investigating whether or not a fence is necessary along that particular section of the interstate.
Florida has experienced a significant increase in panther numbers over the past two decades, from an estimated 30 animals to about 100 today, but Land says the species is far from recovered.
The number of Florida panthers killed by collisions with vehicles -- the speces' second-highest cause of death after infighting -- has been increasing since 2000, ranging from 6 to 15 per year. A total of 14 panthers have been killed on Florida roadways so far in 2009, though the incident is the first ever reported in Broward.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 6 Miami
Posted Saturday, Dec 19, 2009 - 9:06 AM EST
