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Life Expectancy and Mortality
Road kills were a leading cause of
dealth among all panthers. However,
special road underpasses have
greatly reduced these deaths.
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.
When Alligator Alley (State Road 84) was converted to the divided 4-lane I-75 in 1993, underpasses were constructed to allow panthers and other wildlife to safely cross underneath the flow of traffic. A smaller wildlife crossing design more suited for two-lane highways, was developed and installed on State Road 29 north of I-75. There are 36 wildlife underpasses on I-75 and 6 underpasses on State Road 29 protecting the heart of panther habitat. Additional underpasses are planned as road projects develop and funding becomes available.
Research Question
Is intraspecific aggression common in other cougar subspecies? Are there certain conditions under which it's most likely to occur?
Cause of Mortality of Florida Panthers 1979-1997
