36 endangered Florida panthers killed this year, highest death toll since 2016

Three dozen endangered Florida panthers died this year, the most in nearly a decade, according to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

It's the most panther deaths since 2016, when 42 panthers were killed.

2024 outpaced the previous year for panther deaths in May, according to the commission's statistics. November and December were particularly deadly months for the big cats, with 10 of this year's 36 panther deaths occurring then. But it wasn't all doom and gloom for the species: A litter of three young Florida panther cubs was confirmed to be living in the Okaloacoochie Slough State Forest in August.