Groups to sue federal officials over manatee protection
May 2, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Several conservation groups announced Tuesday that they're planning to sue federal wildlife officials, citing a failure to protect the West Indian manatee following record death rates in recent years.
Florida sees fewer manatee starvation deaths as feeding ends
March 29, 2023 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The effort to feed thousands of pounds of lettuce to starving manatees in Florida officially ended for the winter season Wednesday, as deaths of the marine mammals appear to be slowing despite the long-term threat of pollution to their main food source, seagrass.
Florida manatee deaths drop but starvation still a concern
January 12, 2023 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Manatee deaths dropped in 2022 from a record high the year before, but Florida wildlife officials said Wednesday that chronic starvation caused by water pollution remains a major concern.
Dozens of Florida manatees in rehab amid ongoing starvation
January 4, 2023 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — More than six dozen threatened manatees are currently in rehabilitation centers in Florida and elsewhere amid a chronic starvation problem caused by water pollution, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
Florida manatees facing starvation fed through program
December 14, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Along Florida's East Coast, threatened manatees are fed and offered supplies through an unprecedented program that tackles the recurring, pollution-related starvation crisis, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
3 rehabilitated manatees released in Florida Keys
November 30, 2022 GMTKEY COLONY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Three adult male manatees rescued from waters in the Florida Keys earlier this year have been returned to a Keys canal after being treated and rehabilitated at SeaWorld Orlando.
Endangered status sought for manatees as hundreds starve
November 21, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Manatees that are dying by the hundreds mainly from pollution-caused starvation in Florida should once again be listed as an endangered species, environmental groups said Monday in a petition seeking the change.
Lettuce again on the Florida menu to slow manatee starvation
November 16, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Lettuce will be on the menu again this year for Florida manatees as part of an effort to slow the starvation deaths of the beloved marine mammals, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
Rescued manatee flown from Texas to Florida on cargo plane
July 28, 2022 GMTCRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (AP) — An ailing manatee that was found and rehabilitated in Texas late last year was flown to Florida on a cargo plane and released into a bay near a wildlife refuge along the Gulf Coast this week.
Officials: Starvation threat not over for Florida manatees
July 20, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Fewer manatee deaths have been recorded so far this year in Florida compared to the record-setting numbers in 2021, but wildlife officials cautioned Wednesday that chronic starvation remains a dire and ongoing threat to the marine mammals.
US agrees to update critical habitat for Florida manatees
June 1, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to revise the critical habitat designation for Florida manatees, which have been dying in record numbers because water pollution is killing a main food source.
Florida wildlife officials say some manatee food growing
May 25, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Wildlife officials working to prevent threatened Florida manatees from starving to death say they're encouraged that some of the marine mammals' favorite food is growing naturally in a key area.
Celtics co-owner donates $2M to protect Florida manatees
May 18, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — A co-owner of the Boston Celtics is donating $2 million toward protecting the Florida manatees and their habitat following two seasons of record-breaking manatee mortalities in the state.
Florida manatee feeding plan ends, starvation still an issue
April 7, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — 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.
Boaters on coast urged to watch for sea turtles, manatees
April 2, 2022 GMTBRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — Georgia wildlife officials say sea turtle and manatee sightings are on the rise along the state's coast and urge boaters to watch out to avoid hitting them.
Boat strikes are a leading cause of sea turtle strandings and manatee injuries and deaths, according to a news release from the state Department of Natural Resources.
Officials: Florida manatees eat ‘every scrap’ in food trial
March 23, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — One thing wildlife officials have learned during the winter experimental feeding program to help manatees avoid starvation is that if you feed them, they will come.
Florida manatee feeding program to wind down as temps warm
March 16, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The experimental program that has fed tons of lettuce to starving manatees in Florida will begin to wind down as the weather warms, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
55 tons of lettuce fed to Florida’s starving manatees
March 9, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — More than 55 tons of lettuce have been fed to starving Florida manatees as part of an experimental program to help the slow-moving marine mammals since their natural food is being destroyed by water pollution, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
Officials: More than 80 starving manatees in rehab across US
February 23, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — More than 80 rescued Florida manatees are in rehabilitation centers across the U.S. as wildlife officials try to stem starvation deaths by the marine mammals because of poor water quality.
Officials: Florida plan has fed manatees 25 tons of lettuce
February 16, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — 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 said Wednesday.
SeaWorld ramps up care for threatened Florida manatees
February 4, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The SeaWorld theme park in Orlando is opening new pools to care for Florida manatees that are dying from starvation due to poor water quality in their normal habitat.
The lovable, round-tailed marine mammals had their worst die-off last year, more than 1,100 of them, and there are federal and state efforts ongoing to save the threatened creatures.
Manatees in Florida need greater protection, lawsuit says
February 1, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida's manatees are dying at a record rate and need federal protection for their seaside habitat, environmental groups said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
Officials: Florida manatees eating lettuce in pilot program
January 21, 2022 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Manatees at risk of starvation because native seagrass is dying due to water pollution have for the first time started eating lettuce under an experimental feeding program, Florida wildlife officials said Friday.
4 young manatees flown from Florida to Ohio for treatment
January 16, 2022 GMTORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — 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
January 13, 2022 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — An unprecedented, experimental attempt to feed manatees facing starvation in Florida has started slowly but wildlife officials expressed optimism Thursday that it will work as cold weather drives the marine mammals toward warmer waters.
Conservation groups to sue EPA over manatee deaths
December 20, 2021 GMTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Three conservation groups filed a formal notice on Monday of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency if it doesn't take steps to protect manatees from water pollution in Florida.
Manatee feeding program ready as winter tests survival
December 15, 2021 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — As winter approaches Florida, a pilot feeding plan could save many manatees from starvation — but they will still face the long-term threat of manmade water pollution stifling their food supply, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
Test feeding plan in works for starving Florida manatees
December 8, 2021 GMTSt. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Normally giving food to wild animals is considered off limits, but the dire situation in Florida with more than 1,000 manatees dying from starvation due to manmade pollution is leading officials to consider an unprecedented feeding plan.
Officials: Manatee stranded on North Carolina beach dies
December 2, 2021 GMTKILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. (AP) — A manatee found stranded on the North Carolina coast on Thursday has died, a wildlife official said.
The nearly 10-foot-long female was still alive when it was found by a woman walking the beach around sunrise near Kill Devil Hills.
Florida tops 1,000 manatee deaths in grim single-year record
November 17, 2021 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — More than 1,000 manatees have died in Florida so far this year, eclipsing a previous annual record as the threatened marine mammals struggle with starvation due to pollution in the water.
Florida manatee deaths soar as polluted water kills seagrass
October 26, 2021 GMTST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida fishing guide and environmental activist Paul Fafeita says a highlight for his charter customers is spotting the manatees that forage for seagrass in shallow waters.
Manatee deaths rise in Florida as pollutants kill seagrass
October 19, 2021 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Manatees have starved to death by the hundreds along Florida’s east coast because algae blooms and contaminants are killing the seagrass the beloved sea mammals eat, a wildlife official told a House committee Tuesday.
Rehabbed mama manatee and her calf set free in Florida river
July 15, 2021 GMTORANGE CITY, Fla. (AP) — A baby manatee and its injured mother are now swimming in Florida's St. Johns River after undergoing four months of rehabilitation at Sea World Orlando.
They were released Wednesday near Blue Springs State Park, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.
Florida breaks annual manatee death record in first 6 months
July 11, 2021 GMTSTUART, Fla. (AP) — More manatees have died already this year than in any other year in Florida's recorded history, primarily from starvation due to the loss of seagrass beds, state officials said.
Florida on pace for record number of manatee deaths in 2021
March 11, 2021 GMTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A combination of cold weather, a decline in seagrass due to development and contaminated waterways have put Florida on pace for its highest number of manatee deaths in a decade...
Galaxy star Bautista offers reward for Trump carved manatee
January 18, 2021 GMT“Guardians of the Galaxy” actor Dave Bautista is offering a $20,000 reward to catch whoever etched “Trump” into a Florida manatee's back...
Officials: Manatee in Florida had ‘Trump’ drawn on back
January 12, 2021 GMTHOMOSASSA SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — State and federal wildlife officials are investigating reports of a manatee found with “Trump” drawn on its back in a Florida river...
Manatee struck by boat is treated in Tampa
September 14, 2020 GMTFORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A female manatee is fighting to live ZooTampa at Lowry Park after being rescued near Fort Myers Beach.
Injured manatee rescued in Florida gives birth at SeaWorld
May 13, 2020 GMTORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — An injured pregnant manatee was rescued by crews from a Tampa Bay area marine laboratory and taken to SeaWorld in Orlando for treatment, officials said in a news release.
The manatee gave birth to a calf on Tuesday at SeaWorld, the statement said.
2 orphan manatees to rehab in Ohio
May 3, 2019 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Two orphan manatees rescued in Florida have been moved to an Ohio zoo for rehabilitation.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium says the male calves began their rehabilitation process at the Miami Seaquarium, arrived in Ohio this week and eventually will be returned to the waters of Florida.
2 orphan manatees from Florida to take part in rehab in Ohio
April 30, 2019 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Two orphan manatees rescued in Florida have been moved to an Ohio zoo for rehabilitation.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium says the male calves began their rehabilitation process at the Miami Seaquarium, arrived in Ohio this week and eventually will be returned to the waters of Florida.
Remains of ancient sea cow unearthed on California island
November 29, 2017 GMTVENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Scientists say they've unearthed fossil remains of a sea cow that lived in the shallow waters off Southern California's Channel Islands some 25 million years ago...
Florida: 520 manatee deaths in 2016, with 104 due to boats
January 26, 2017 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Wildlife officials say 520 manatees died in Florida last year, including a record 104 killed by boat strikes.
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data released Thursday, cold stress killed 23 of the protected sea cows in 2016.
Pregnant manatee flown from Connecticut aquarium to Florida
October 18, 2016 GMTMYSTIC, Conn. (AP) — A pregnant manatee that was rescued off Cape Cod has been flown from Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium to Florida.
The manatee is named Washburn after the island where she was rescued.
Connecticut aquarium holds public viewing of rescued manatee
October 8, 2016 GMTMYSTIC, Conn. (AP) — The public will get a chance this weekend at Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium to see a manatee that was rescued off the coast of Cape Cod last month.
The aquarium has been rehabilitating the manatee and has gotten permission from the U.S.
Snooty the manatee celebrates 65th birthday
July 19, 2013 GMTBRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Snooty the manatee was born when Harry S. Truman was president, Columbia records had just released its 33 1/3 LP format, and people were still talking about how the NBC television network had broadcast Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in its entirety.