Manatees

2023 - 1 - 4

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

Dozens of Florida manatees in rehab amid ongoing starvation (Los Angeles Times)

More than six dozen threatened manatees are in rehabilitation centers in Florida and elsewhere amid a chronic starvation problem caused by water pollution, ...

There are between 7,000 and 8,000 manatees — also known as sea cows — in Florida, according to state estimates. One water management district found that there has been a 75% drop in seagrass in the critical Indian River Lagoon since 2009. About 20 young manatees that have been rehabilitated will be released in the wild by the end of February, she added. Manatees have not gathered at the Cape Canaveral feeding site in large numbers. Thomas Van Trees of the commission said the highest count so far is 75. Fish and Wildlife Service said during an online news conference.

Is there enough room to house Florida's rescued manatees? Wildlife ... (Tampa Bay Times)

Caring for a malnourished manatee is no simple task: It can take constant attention, such as tube-feeding three times a day, to nurture a sick sea cow back ...

This year, biologists have already received roughly 35,000 pounds of lettuce, according to Thomas Van Trees, an incident commander with the Florida wildlife commission. Last year, nearly 800 more died, according to the latest Florida wildlife commission data. Twenty manatees died in rehabilitation facilities last year, and 25 died in 2021, Calleson said. And to help create even more space, 20 new slots for sick and injured manatees are projected to open up at SeaWorld within the next few months. There are 79 manatees currently in rehabilitation facilities across Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Puerto Rico, according to Terri Calleson, the Florida manatee recovery lead for the U.S. Of those, 84% are housed in Florida facilities — and ZooTampa, SeaWorld in Orlando and the Jacksonville Zoo all have space available for more.

Cautious Optimism Over the Fate of Hungry Manatees as the ... (WQCS)

During the weekly conference call on the status of the manatee feeding program, which is now in its second season, FWC Capt. Thomas Van Trees was upbeat and ...

“In the peak days of the past two year there could be 15 to 20 carcasses reported daily. And the numbers of manatees change throughout the day with a recent high of 75 manatees on site.” In addition, he said the waters of the Indian River Lagoon have warmed up from the 51 degree temperatures they sank to during the cold snap last month that drove dozens of manatees into the warm water feeding site at the FP&L plant in Port St.

Florida taco chain teams up with wildlife officials to help feed ... (WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando)

2021 marked a record-breaking year for manatee deaths, the majority of which were in the Indian River Lagoon.

[Become a News 6 Insider](https://www.clickorlando.com/features/2021/07/28/heres-what-it-means-to-become-a-news-6-insider-its-cool-and-free/)] You’re right, and here’s why](https://www.clickorlando.com/features/2023/01/04/think-mcdonalds-coke-tastes-better-youre-right-and-heres-why/) In the meantime, it’s important to remember that feeding wild manatees requires a special permit. [animals are still in trouble, especially in the Indian River Lagoon. These winter months are the toughest for manatees. [Mount Dora police ID couple killed at senior living community; person of interest in custody](https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/01/02/mount-dora-officials-to-provide-update-on-husband-wife-killed-in-senior-living-community/)

Florida is fighting to feed starving manatees this winter (Ars Technica)

Pollution has decimated their usual menu of seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon. Many have starved: 1,101 died in Florida in 2021, and as of December, 2022's ...

That means agricultural discharge and sewage leaks have jacked up the levels of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen in nearby waters. [96 percent](https://myfwc.com/research/manatee/rescue-mortality-response/publication/) of them have at least one propeller scar), [dried out Florida’s historic Everglades](https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/everglades/history/), and flooded its waterways with pollutants. So along the canal, members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are [tossing them lettuce](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeOKa2RKth8). Human activity has simultaneously increased agriculture in the region, led to more boating accidents that injure manatees ( Pollution has decimated their usual menu of seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon. Many have starved: 1,101 died in Florida in 2021, and as of December, 2022’s

Rehabilitation facilities make room for more of Florida's ailing ... (WMFE)

Many rescued manatees have gone to SeaWorld in Orlando, like these in a theme park lagoon. Wildlife agencies say rehabilitation facilities are making more room ...

Fish and Wildlife Service. The manatees have been treated at rehabilitation facilities from Puerto Rico to Ohio, although most have remained in Florida. Rehabilitation facilities make room for more of Florida's ailing manatees