Florida activists plan to sue federal government over manateesโ endangered status delay
Supporters of bolstering protections for manatees notified the federal government Thursday that they are preparing to file a lawsuit over delays in determining whether manatees should be classified as an endangered species.
Florida sees fewer manatee starvation deaths as feeding ends
The effort to feed thousands of pounds of lettuce to starving manatees in Florida manatees has officially ended for the winter season, as deaths of the marine mammals appear to be slowing despite the long-term threat of pollution to their main food source, seagrass.
Wildlife officials to boaters: Remember not to hit any manatees this holiday weekend
Memorial Day weekend is considered by some to be the unofficial start of summer and, by no coincidence, a great time to get back in the water. Unfortunately, according to conservationists and wildlife officials, manatees have similar plans.
Startling statistics: Floridaโs record-breaking manatee deaths โa very sad wake-up callโ
Though itโs only July, the total number of Florida manatee deaths in 2021 has already reached a higher total than it did in all of 2020, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Merritt Island park now a โmanatee graveyardโ as Florida sea cows starve to death
MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. โ Scientists say Floridaโs most enamored marine mammal is starving to death, News 6 partner Florida Today reports. That includes 169 dead manatees (42%) in Brevard County. Because of COVID-19 rules, a state lab tasked with examining dead manatees has only been able to salvage and examine 30% of the remains. โThis is not the usual type of animal we see.โHalf of the dead manatees are adults, she said. To report a sick, injured or dead manatee, contact the FWC hotline at 888-404-3922, and press *7 to speak with an operator.
Experts puzzled over huge spike in Florida manatee deaths
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating a huge spike in manatee deaths across the state while biologists and other experts are left wondering why so many of the threatened species are dying. In the first six weeks of 2021, there were 317 manatee deaths across the state, according to the FWC. Thatโs almost half of all deaths reported in Florida for all of last year when 638 manatees died. Boaters are urged to call FWC if they see a manatee in distress so they can come out and help. You can also donate to the Save the Manatee Club for research and find more ways to help at their website, www.savethemanatee.org.
Pandemic and more boats have not been good to Florida manatees
They are as synonymous with Florida as flamingoโs Manatees or as they are sometimes called, sea cows, love the tropical weather and warm waters of Florida. Powell shares his knowledge of these gentle giants and tells us how the pandemic has likely had an adverse affect on them. By some estimates there are about 13,000 manatees on the planet with about half of those living in the southeastern U.S. While boating is good for those who are feeling cabin fever during the pandemic, it has not been good for manatees. โWe had seen it in Blue Spring, we had actually seen it up in north Florida and I think even Georgia,โ Powell said.
Free Wheelie: Manatee returns to Blue Spring without tire around waist
ORANGE CITY, Fla. โ A manatee that a year ago was seen swimming around Blue Spring State Park with a bicycle tire cinching its waist has returned to the crystal clear waters free of the trap. Officials from Save the Manatee Club said Friday they donโt know how the manatee managed to shake the tire lose but they mentioned that Wheelie, as the manatee was called by the public, was struck by a boatโs propeller in February and that strike cut and weakened the tire. Also called Schwinn by researchers, the manatee now has deep scars around its midsection where the bike tire was once entangled. Wheelie the manatee now has scars from where a bike tire was stuck around its waist. Save the Manatee Club manatee research associate Cora Berchem first spotted Wheelie on Wednesday on an above-water livestreaming webcam.
Save the Manatee Club in need of manatee observers at Blue Spring State Park
The Save the Manatee Club, in partnership with Blue Spring State Park, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and Volusia County, is in need of volunteers to be manatee observers. The volunteer program operates from March to November at Blue Spring State Park because that is โswim seasonโ when park visitors may come in contact with manatees. The volunteers are there to โhelp prevent manatee harassment and to educate visitors about proper behavior around manatees. Two mandatory training sessions are scheduled at Blue Spring State Park on March 5 and March 14 at 10 a.m. for two to three hours. To sign up, email cberchem@savethemanatee.org with your preferred training date and whether youโd like a kayak training session.