Life Expectancy and Mortality   
notes Hear the "Big Guy" Song
Dale Crider sings about the inspiring story of a trucker who helped save a Florida panther nicknamed "Big Guy" that was severely injured by an automobile on U.S. 41 (requires RealAudio).

Sadly, road kills are leading cause of death among all panthers but special road underpasses have greatly reduced these tragedies
RealVideo of Wildlife Crossings
click for pictures of wildlife underpasses

Panthers can live up to 12 years or more in the wild. Female kittens have a good chance of living 10 years or more. In 1998 one female panther in the wild was still alive at the age of 16. Males have a tougher time, but if they can survive to 5 or 6 years, they too are likely to live to 10 or more years of age (Land: personal communication).

     Among radio-collared panthers, the most frequent cause of death was panthers killing other panthers (intraspecific aggression). Usually adult males kill juvenile males, who enter their ranges often in search of females. Males have also killed females, and younger males have killed older males (Land 1994a).

     Other causes of death among panthers include bacterial infections, rabies, pseudorabies, and congenital heart defects. One dead female panther was found to have high levels of mercury in her tissues. Between 1978 and 1994, 20 panther deaths (12 males and 8 females) and six injuries were documented from collisions with cars and trucks.
piechart What are the major causes of panther mortality?
Find Out!


research question    When Alligator Alley was converted to I-75 in 1993, underpasses were constructed to aid the crossing of panthers and other wildlife. A smaller wildlife crossing design more suited for two-lane highways, was developed and installed on State Road 29 north of I-75. Since completion of the underpasses, no panther has been killed on the former Alligator Alley.


Rearing of Young   Back to Top   Habitat

 

 


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