60 Seconds
for a life
Show You Care
and Get your Panther
Crossing Sticker!
and Get your Panther
Crossing Sticker!
Beyond costly fines, excessive speeds require a mandatory court appearance and time off work. By driving posted speeds you can help avoid the disruption to your personal life as well as reduce the threat of personal injury to you and your family along with vehicle damage. Plus you'll also be helping ensure the survival of Florida's panthers.
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Roads and Florida PanthersThe Florida panther is an endangered population of America's large cat also known as pumas, mountain lions, or cougars. As the panther population increased from a few dozen in the 1980s to over 200 adult cats today, collisions with vehicles have increased and are one of the leading causes of panther deaths. Entire litters have been known to die in vehicle collisions. In 2022, 13 of the known panther deaths were attributed to vehicle strikes.
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Nighttime is Panther TimePanther activity is greatest between dusk and dawn when visibility is lowest. 45 mph nighttime speed zones exist where panthers are known to frequently cross roads.
Avoiding AccidentsHaving a greater than 50% chance of avoiding an animal as large as a moose at night requires driving 40 mph – hence the wisdom of the 45-mph nighttime speed in panther crossing zones.
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The average cost of a speeding ticket issued in a nighttime panther crossing is over $200. |
Experience Doesn't Count HereWhile newer drivers have more overall crashes, drivers of all types have similar rates of wildlife collisions. So don't be fooled. Driving experience simply can't make up for vehicle speed when an animal jumps out in front of you.
You Need a Lot of RoadPerception of how fast we can stop in regular driving can be deceptive compared to wildlife interactions. The reality is that braking distance increases exponentially with speed and reaction time to the presence of an animal isn’t immediate. At 50 mph, you need half a football field to stop. But at 70 mph, you'd be all the way into the far end zone. Wet pavement? You're somewhere in the team's locker room.
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Voucher to Print and Redeem at Naples Zoo Ticket Box
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Or Use this Printable Form
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Driving Safety Tips
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What should I do if I hit a panther?If you hit a panther or if you see an injured or a road-killed panther, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission immediately at 1-888-404-3922. If you cannot remain at the site, give detailed location instructions. TIP: Program that number in your phone now under a name you'll recognize like "Florida Panther Collision."
Your information could help biologists rescue the animal. Do not approach if the panther is injured, for your safety as well as the animal’s. Watch the animal from a safe distance, preferably from inside your vehicle, until help arrives. |
PantherCrossing.org is a collaborative effort to reduce Florida panther mortalities on roads and is coordinated and funded by Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens as part of their conservation programs.
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QUESTIONS?
Contact Tim L. Tetzlaff, Naples Zoo's Director of Conservation © COPYRIGHT 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |