Fauna Journal Entry

Cold Snap Took Toll on Manatees (February 8, 2010)

The cold snap that gripped Florida last month took a big toll on the state's endangered manatees. Wildlife officials say at least 100 manatees died from the cold. To keep warm, large groups of the marine mammals crowded around warm water outlets at the mouths of power plants or near hot springs. The cold weather was also stressful for sea turtles and other wildlife adapted to warmer conditions.

The deadly cold weather is a blow to the state's manatee population, which took a big hit in 2009. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission counted 429 manatee deaths last year, including more than 100 young calves. That's the highest total ever recorded in one year. Nearly one-fourth of last year's deaths were from collisions with speed boats.

Conservationists say the rise in manatee deaths from boats proves the slow-moving "sea cows" need better protection. That's especially true in southwestern Florida, where about half of manatee deaths from boats occurred. One proposal is to install video cameras along busy waterways to catch boaters zipping through the water at unsafe speeds.

There was some good news in the 2009 population report. The survey counted over 3,800 manatees, 500 more than the previous high. It's a hopeful sign that efforts to help manatees are starting to pay off.