Florida - Wednesday June 15, 2022: A Florida Fish and Wildlife official Wednesday said the rate of manatee deaths is nearing a more normal level, although the number of deaths is still elevated.
1,101 manatees died in 2021, a record number. Most of them died from starvation. The vast majority of deaths occurred in the Indian River Lagoon where water pollution has killed off large areas of sea grass which is the primary source of food for manatees.
In a briefing to reporters Wednesday Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officials and U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said they want to remind residents about the other threats facing manatees now that the warmer summer months have arrived.
The message to boaters from Florida Fish and Wildlife Regional Director Tom Reinert is slow down and watch out for manatees in the water. “Big boating weekend coming up with July 4th, but throughout the summer it’s the boating season, so let’s try and help everybody to stay as vigilant as possible out there," said Reinert. "There’s water craft collisions, entanglement, those things are still out there, so we want people to stay mindful of that.”
Terri Calleson of U.S. Fish and Wildlife emphasized that the manatee rescue and rehabilitation effort continues. There are still 89 manatees being cared for in rehabilitation facilities in Florida, Georgia Ohio and Puerto Rico. "That’s for all causes," she said, "not just for animals from the starvation event. And we’ve seen an uptick in watercraft related injuries.”
However, Calleson said they are still finding some manatees suffering from starvation as far down as the keys. “A manatee was rescued this past Friday in Marathon Florida. That animal was an emaciation case, so you can see the long range of this event.”
Still, as of June 3, wildlife officials had recorded 575 Manatee deaths around the state, since the start of this year. That is 205 fewer deaths than last year at the same time.
“Still slightly elevated," said Reinert but after the mass starvation events of this past winter, "we’re back to, close to, a more closely normal level of mortality.”
However, wildlife officials acknowledged that they are still planning for the prospect of another manatee feeding program when the cooler winter months set in later this year.
To report a tagged, sick, injured or dead manatee call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Toll-Free Number: 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922), press "7" to speak with an operator.
Cellular phone customers should enter - *FWC or #FWC.