News

By Cheyenne Canon, Program Project Coordinator

The number of manatee rescues in Florida remained high (116) last year, though well below the record number (159) in 2021. Rescues due to entrapment were low compared to prior years, but the number of manatee deaths from ‘flood gate/canal lock’ injuries more than doubled from last year (8 to 17). A total of 19 manatees were rescued from stranding and entrapment in the aftermath of hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. Only one hurricane-related death was confirmed; however, vast areas in the Big Bend region of Florida are sparsely populated and weren’t accessible in the aftermath of the hurricanes, so stranded or deceased manatees may have gone unnoticed. The largest number of rescues (23) occurred in Citrus County. They also had the fourth largest number of manatee deaths (39), the vast majority of which were classified as ‘not necropsied’ or ‘natural’ and occurred in the winter months. Hurricane Idalia (in 2023) and subsequent storms have unfortunately affected the vegetation in this area, leaving many young manatees who are used to finding food close to warm-water sites in the winter, struggling to find appropriate food sources.

Brevard County recorded the largest number of manatee deaths (100), with 55 classified as perinatal. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, manatee carcasses that are less than or equal to 5 feet (150 cm) in total length are considered perinatal deaths and include a wide range of causes of death that are considered natural or undetermined, like cold stress, stillborn manatees, orphaned calves, or decomposed remains. This increase in perinatal mortality accompanies an increase in manatee reproduction in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Increased perinatal mortality can occur with a return to reproduction due to higher pregnancy rates, inexperienced first-time mothers, or females recovering from malnutrition and unable to carry to term. Boat strikes were the leading human-caused threat to manatees in Florida, accounting for 17% of all manatee deaths in 2024. Watercraft deaths were most frequent in Volusia (12), Lee (12), and Brevard (10) counties. Compared to the 10-year average (100), the number of watercraft deaths in 2024 was below average. However, the un-necropsied carcasses and the undetermined cases may include watercraft fatalities, too; it just could not be confirmed.

Many Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership partners have stepped up to care for more manatees. Recently, Disney World transitioned from long-term care to short-term acute care to free up resources for facilities nearing capacity. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature was able to take in additional manatees at their Myakka facility who needed critical care; ZooTampa has built additional medical pools for calves; and Brevard Zoo is nearing completion on their new rehabilitation facility.

The below-average manatee deaths, large numbers of rescues, expansion of multiple rehabilitation facilities, and increasing birth rates in the IRL are all signals indicating an improvement in the circumstances of the Florida manatee.