manatees

A proposed overhaul of the Marine Mammal Protection Act is aimed at bringing "objectivity and clarity" to terms defined in the law.

James "Buddy" Powell was chief zoological officer at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. He researched the gentle sea cows throughout much of their range. Powell was 70.

After cuts in staff at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, the world's largest manatee sanctuary, reports have surfaced of manatees being harassed.

A federal judge has ordered the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to take a series of steps aimed at protecting manatees in the northern Indian River Lagoon.

A judge says Florida needs to seek what is known as an "incidental take permit" from federal wildlife officials to help minimize the effects of discharges on manatees.

Cold temperatures in Florida can have a serious impact on the animals living in the sunshine state. When temperatures dip too low, cold stress can impact creatures from the iguanas that fall from South Florida trees to the cold stunned sea turtles on the coast to manatees making their way into the warmer rivers and springs.

The proposed rule would keep the Florida manatee as threatened, continuing its status since being delisted as endangered in 2017. A public hearing is set for Feb. 26.

19 manatees rescued after storm-related floodwaters receded were discovered thanks to reports made to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline.

The higher perinatal total indicates manatee reproduction is likely bouncing back from 2021’s starvation event.

Nearly 2,000 manatees died in Florida in 2021 and 2022 as water pollution killed the seagrass they feed on. The manatee was downlisted in 2017 from endangered to threatened.