Florida manatee deaths drop over first quarter of 2024 compared to last year

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently issued a report showing 230 manatees have died during the first quarter of 2024, a drop from 271 over the same period last year.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, 44 manatee deaths were recorded in Lee County, 31 in Brevard County, and 24 in Citrus County from Jan. 1 to April 26. The report also showed 56 deaths were perinatal while 30 were caused by watercrafts.

Furthermore, the FWC indicated 49 were from natural causes.

“Our cause of death investigations show that the main reason for lower mortality numbers this year compared to 2021 and 2022 is that there are no causes at this time that often lead to elevation of mortality, such as red tide or starvation from lack of seagrass,” the FWC said.

By comparison, Lee County also represented the majority of manatee deaths through the same period of 2023 with 73. The report also indicated 49 were from natural causes.

The commission noted 556 manatees died during all of 2023, which was well below the five year average of 793. It also was the lowest manatee death total since 2017 when 538 carcasses were recorded.

Overall, the commission stated common threats to the manatee population include watercraft collisions and loss of warm water habitat leading to cold stress. It also noted seagrass recovery on the Atlantic coast “still has a long way to go,” with any setbacks possibly leading to a revival in mortality due to starvation.

The Florida manatee population is estimated to be between 5,700 and 8,800, with approximately 3,300 living on the state’s west coast and 2,400 on the east coast. New figures on its population by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute for 2021 and 2022 are expected to be released this year.

A subspecies of the West Indian manatee, the Florida manatee was downgraded from endangered to threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2017 following a population increase over the past 30 years.

The manatee itself is a large, aquatic mammal native to the state. However, it has been discovered as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts during the summer months. During the winter, it typically resides in Florida, as it requires warm water to survive.

Sometimes referred to as the Sea Cow, it usually grows between 9-10 feet long while weighing 1,000 pounds. Although, they have been known to reach over 13 feet long and weigh 3,500 pounds.

By its characteristics, the manatee is commonly recognized by their finely-wrinkled, leathery looking skin that often flakes off. They also have two fore limb flippers used for steering, which help it hold vegetation while eating. Additionally, their large, round, flattened paddle-shaped tail is used for swimming.

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