Naples,FL: 4-year-old panther marks the 19th roadkill death of one of Florida's official state animals this yearin Collier County road on Thursday, 13th November 2014

On a Collier County road on Thursday, biologists found a female Florida panther that had been run over by a car or truck. The death of that 3- or 4-year-old panther marks the 19th roadkill death of one of Florida's official state animals this year. That ties the all-time record set in 2012 — with more than a month left to go in the year. Experts expect to see the record broken before New Year's Eve rolls around. Biologists estimate the population of panthers now to be from 100 to 180 adults and an unknown number of cubs. In addition to the loss of 19 to speeding cars and trucks this year, another four were killed by other causes. Dave Onorato, a research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said in an email that the record-tying deaths this year were caused by "a mixture of more panthers, more cars/people, and less habitat." To try to cut back on the road deaths, "we need to do a better job of land-use planning and transportation planning," Elizabeth Fleming of Defenders of Wildlife said. Source : 19th Florida panther killed by car, tying all-time record