NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — A panther has killed a Southwest Florida family's 500-pound pet pony named Maximus.
The Naples Daily News reported Thursday that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission says this is the 20th reported panther-related pet or livestock death or injury this year.
Courtney Stehling says she found Maximus dead last week.
The roughly 5-year-old pony was blind in one eye and bought for her 6-year-old son.
Maximus was kept in a pen on the family's Naples property with three regular-sized horses. Despite the pen being enclosed by a 5-foot fence and some wire, the panther was still able to get to Maximus.
An FWC spokeswoman, Carol Lyn Parrish, says residents can help prevent attacks by endangered Florida panthers by securing their property, installing motion-activated lights and clearing vegetation the could conceal panthers.
Florida panther attacks, kills 500-pound pet pony named Maximus in Golden Gate Estates http://t.co/S42JTlK3LIpic.twitter.com/Ty5dOVgyHJ
— Naples Daily News (@ndn) October 11, 2018