Florida Panther Struck By Car Continues To Nurse Back To Full Strength

By  //  June 18, 2016

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A driver notified personnel about a panther struck by a car in Collier County. Panther biologists Mark Lotz, Dave Onorato and Brian Kelly joined Officer Barringer to safely capture the injured 6-month-old female panther. (MyFWC Image)

A driver notified personnel about a panther struck by a car in Collier County. Panther biologists Mark Lotz, Dave Onorato and Brian Kelly joined Officer Barringer to safely capture the injured 6-month-old female panther.

They took the injured kitten to the Animal Specialty Hospital of Florida where vets determined it suffered a bruised lung and an injury to its hip bone.

The injuries do not appear life threatening.

The kitten will be taken to a private conservation facility where she can be treated with minimal contact with people in the hope she will be able to be released back into the wild.

If you see an injured panther, please call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-(FWCC)3922 or ‪#‎FWC‬ or *FWC on a cell phone.

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Another option is to send a text to Tip@MyFWC.com.

Florida residents can support conservation efforts like the rescue and rehabilitation of this panther by purchasing a “Protect the Panther” license plate: http://www.buyaplate.com/Protect%20The%20Panther.

Fees from license plate sales are the primary funding source for the FWC’s research and management of Florida panthers.