FELDA, Fla. — Only one Florida panther kitten remains from the first documented litter of 2024, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Wildlife Research Institute shared last week.
The kitten was a part of an original litter of three.
FWC documented the litter on Aug. 20 in the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest. There were reportedly one male and two female kittens. Their mom was listed as FP269.
"Unfortunately, the survival rate for Florida panther kittens to make it to year one is low – only 32%," FWC explained in a Facebook post.
The agency said that its team of researchers confirmed two of the three kittens were killed by a predator, likely a bear or another panther.
"It's tough being a Florida panther, but panthers are tough!" the Facebook post continues.
At the time they were found, the kittens were about 22 days old.
Researchers used a GPS collar to track an adult female panther to a den site and waited for her to leave again to assess the kittens. That's when they're sexed, weighed, dewormed, microchipped and have a biopsy taken.
Florida panthers are listed as endangered, and it's illegal to harm or harass them. They are usually found south of Lake Okeechobee, and there are only up to 230 adult panthers in the population, according to the FWC.
The main threat the animal is facing is habitat loss. New construction of roads, highways and residential and commercial developments make it difficult for them to find enough territory, prey and mates, according to The Nature Conservancy.
If you see a sick, injured or dead Florida panther you can report it online or call 888-404-FWC or send a text to Tip@MyFWC.com
10 Tampa Bay's Claire Farrow contributed to this report.
