$30 million of Florida state budget will be used to help manatees, governor says
Millions of dollars from Florida's state budget will be funneled into projects to protect manatees and their habitats as their population faces high death rates.
Florida manatee feeding plan ends, but starvation still an issue
The unprecedented, experimental program to feed starving manatees in Florida is ending, but the greater issue is the polluted water that causes the marine mammals to run out of their natural seagrass forage.
Florida commissioner suggests killing manatees might help save the marine species
A commissioner in Brevard County is facing intense criticism after he suggested allowing people to kill manatees as a way to control their population.
Wildlife officials to stop manatee temporary feeding program as warm weather moves in
FWC said workers dropped more than 201,000 pounds of mixed produce in the water since January 20 when manatees began feeding. It cost more than $105,000 for the produce.
Manatee Appreciation Day brings awareness to Floridians following record number of sea cow deaths
Every March, there is a day to not only appreciate the cute snoots of Florida's beloved sea cows but also to learn about conservation efforts to help the manatee species.
Experts say boaters need to watch for manatees
Manatee experts are pointing to concerns about boating collisions as the struggling sea cows migrate from an unorthodox feeding area in the Indian River Lagoon.
After 4 months and 160,000 pounds of lettuce, Florida plans to wind down manatee feeding program
A pilot feeding program designed to reduce starvation issues amongst Florida manatees will soon conclude as experts say warmer waters are helping to disperse the population to their summer habitats, lessening the strain on natural resources.
TECO looking to add observation dock at Manatee Viewing Center
A proposed expansion at TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center may bring more people up close to Florida’s manatees.
Florida manatee feeding program to wind down as temperatures warm
The experimental program that has fed tons of lettuce to starving manatees in Florida will begin to wind down as the weather warms. The feeding program has provided more than 128,000 pounds of food to the slow-moving sea cows. It is an effort to prevent another die-off like Florida saw last year.
Florida's lettuce test project has fed manatees 25 tons of lettuce, officials say
The unprecedented human effort to feed starving Florida manatees has so far provided the lovable marine mammals with more than 25 tons of lettuce, officials announced. Last year, a record 1,101 manatee deaths were recorded, largely from starvation.
Proposed law would let developers destroy seagrass, pay to have it planted elsewhere
Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would let builders destroy sea grass and pay to have it planted elsewhere. Those who know Florida's waterways say that's a bad idea.
Manatees seek warmer waters as Bay Area experiences coolest temperatures of season
Cold fronts in Florida can be stressful for manatees, which is why they head to places around the state like natural springs or TECO's Manatee Viewing Center where the water is a constant 72 degrees.
Four young manatees flown from Florida to Ohio for treatment
SeaWorld Orlando transferred four manatee calves to an Ohio aquarium for rehabilitation, freeing space to treat more of the threatened sea mammals that have been dying in Florida at an alarming rate.
Manatee feeding experiment starts slowly as cold looms
An unprecedented, experimental attempt to feed manatees facing starvation in Florida has started slowly, but wildlife officials expressed optimism it will work as cold weather drives the marine mammals toward warmer waters.
’Pollution is pollution’: How to reduce amount of algae-thriving nutrients in Bay Area waterways
Water quality issues have become a very visible problem in Florida in recent years with toxic algae clogging waterways and killing off shocking amounts of wildlife.
Florida manatee population hit hard in 2021 with 1,101 reported deaths
2021 was a morbid year for Florida manatees, with mortality rates reaching an all-time high. FWC reports a record-breaking 1,101 manatees died last year.
Giant tarpon, leaping rays swim alongside manatees at TECO power plant
It’s not unusual to see a variety of wildlife at TECO’s Big Bend power plant, but Friday morning, it was tarpon that were out in full force.
Program to restore seagrass also saving sea cows in Homosassa Springs
A Crystal River organization is helping wild and captive manatees with a novel program that restores and harvests seagrass.
Conservation groups plan lawsuit against EPA over Florida's record manatee deaths
Three conservation groups are moving toward filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection over water-quality problems that have led to a record number of manatee deaths this year in Florida.
ZooTampa releases rehabilitated manatee into Gulf of Mexico after treating for red tide toxicity
ZooTampa has released a manatee back into the Gulf of Mexico after treating the sea cow for red tide toxicity for two months.