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Articles for Manatees

An unprecedented 1,000 manatees are gathering in Florida this week – but why?
10 months, 4 weeks ago

An unprecedented 1,000 manatees are gathering in Florida this week – but why?

BBC  

An unprecedented 1,000 manatees are gathering in Florida this week – but why? Nearly 1,000 of the gentle sea mammals, also known as sea cows, were counted at Blue Spring State Park earlier this week, as first reported via the park’s Facebook page. On that same day – easily the coldest of the year, says Berchem – a drove of …

Spring Florida State Number Park Cold Manatee
Dozens of Florida manatees in rehab amid ongoing starvation
1 year, 11 months ago

Dozens of Florida manatees in rehab amid ongoing starvation

LA Times  

Manatees gather in a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., canal near an outflow of warm water from a power plant in 2010. More than six dozen threatened manatees are in rehabilitation centers in Florida and elsewhere amid a chronic starvation problem caused by water pollution, wildlife officials said last week. World & Nation Florida manatees face starvation, though fewer have died this …

Florida Cape Canaveral Manatees Ongoing Starvation
US agrees to update critical habitat for Florida manatees
2 years, 6 months ago

US agrees to update critical habitat for Florida manatees

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to revise the critical habitat designation for Florida manatees, which have been dying in record numbers because water pollution is killing a main food source. The manatee critical habitat designation has not been updated since 1976; it’s something manatee advocates have been pushing for since 2008. Once it happens, manatee advocates …

Critical Habitat Critical Habitat Manatee Manatees Florida Wildlife
Florida wildlife officials say some manatee food growing
2 years, 6 months ago

Florida wildlife officials say some manatee food growing

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wildlife officials working to prevent threatened Florida manatees from starving to death say they’re encouraged that some of the marine mammals’ favorite food is growing naturally in a key area. Seagrasses have been found growing recently in small areas of the Indian River Lagoon along Florida’s east coast where chronic pollution has wiped out much of …

Fwc Manatee Manatees Florida Wildlife
Officials: Florida manatees eat ‘every scrap’ in food trial
2 years, 9 months ago

Officials: Florida manatees eat ‘every scrap’ in food trial

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — One thing wildlife officials have learned during the winter experimental feeding program to help manatees avoid starvation is that if you feed them, they will come. Manatees have eaten virtually all of the estimated 160,000 pounds of lettuce provided at a warm-water power plant site where manatees typically congregate during cold months, officials said Wednesday during …

Florida Officials Seaworld Manatees Eat
Florida manatee feeding program to wind down as temps warm
2 years, 9 months ago

Florida manatee feeding program to wind down as temps warm

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The experimental program that has fed tons of lettuce to starving manatees in Florida will begin to wind down as the weather warms, wildlife officials said Wednesday. Last year, more than 1,100 manatees died — far above the five-year average of about 202 annual deaths — mostly of starvation because their favored seagrass source of food …

Florida Manatee Manatees
55 tons of lettuce fed to Florida’s starving manatees
2 years, 9 months ago

55 tons of lettuce fed to Florida’s starving manatees

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — More than 55 tons of lettuce have been fed to starving Florida manatees as part of an experimental program to help the slow-moving marine mammals since their natural food is being destroyed by water pollution, wildlife officials said Wednesday. “That’s a substantial amount,” said Ron Mezich, feeding program coordinator for the Florida wildlife commission. “We’re not …

Fed Manatees Florida Wildlife Starving Florida
Manatee feeding program ready as winter tests survival
3 years ago

Manatee feeding program ready as winter tests survival

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As winter approaches Florida, a pilot feeding plan could save many manatees from starvation — but they will still face the long-term threat of manmade water pollution stifling their food supply, wildlife officials said Wednesday. Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest electric utility, is putting up $700,000 for a “temporary field response station” to feed …

Wildlife Florida Water Water Quality State Barreto Manatee
Test feeding plan in works for starving Florida manatees
3 years ago

Test feeding plan in works for starving Florida manatees

Associated Press  

St. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Normally giving food to wild animals is considered off limits, but the dire situation in Florida with more than 1,000 manatees dying from starvation due to manmade pollution is leading officials to consider an unprecedented feeding plan. Fish and Wildlife Service and state environmental officials intend to unveil a limited proposal this week to feed the …

Florida Rose Manatee Manatees Feeding Plan
Florida tops 1,000 manatee deaths in grim single-year record
3 years, 1 month ago

Florida tops 1,000 manatee deaths in grim single-year record

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — More than 1,000 manatees have died in Florida so far this year, eclipsing a previous annual record as the threatened marine mammals struggle with starvation due to pollution in the water. Authorities expected another bad year for manatees, with more deaths to come as Florida enters the winter months when the animals congregate in warm-water areas …

Florida Manatee Manatees
Florida manatee deaths soar as polluted water kills seagrass
3 years, 1 month ago

Florida manatee deaths soar as polluted water kills seagrass

Associated Press  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida fishing guide and environmental activist Paul Fafeita says a highlight for his charter customers is spotting the manatees that forage for seagrass in shallow waters. “It’s not good when you’ve got clients on the boat and all of a sudden there’s a dead manatee,” Fafeita, president of the Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County, …

Florida Deaths Water Fish Mcrae Seagrass State Environmental
More than 400 manatees have died in Florida this year
3 years, 9 months ago

More than 400 manatees have died in Florida this year

Daily Mail  

A combination of cold weather, a decline in seagrass due to development and contaminated waterways have put Florida on pace for its highest number of manatee deaths in a decade. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation reports at least 432 marine animals have died in 2021, compared to a total of 637 last year and 607 in 2019. Manatees feed …

Florida Grass Sea Grass Manatee Manatees Indian River River Lagoon