Cold Stress Kills Several Manatees
Greetings to you! There have been a high number of manatee deaths this year due to several cold spells in Florida. “The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionjust released a new report confirming 12 manatees died of cold stress, and an additional 33 have not yet undergone a necropsy. In Collier County, four manatee deaths are attributed to the cold, Charlotte County has four still undetermined, and Palm Beach County lists one cold-stress manatee death this year.”
When it’s winter in Florida, manatee mortalities increase statewide due to cold stress. Manatees need water above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to survive prolonged cold weather. As temperatures drop, Florida manatees move into springs, power plant discharge areas and other warm-water places.
“In Lee County, their refuge is at Manatee Park, next to the Florida Power and Light (FPL) warm-water discharge area. Manatees flock there when the water gets cold, but this year an unforeseen problem led to FPL temporarily shutting down its warm water discharge. Yet FPL did everything right under the contract it has with the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. That contract states that when the ambient water temperature is below 61 degrees Fahrenheit, the FPL Ft Myers power plant must maintain the water temperature in an adequate portion of the discharge canal at or above 68 degrees, until the ambient water temperature reaches 61 degrees again. The power plant is not allowed to shut down for maintenance from November 15 through March 31 each year. If there is a problem and they must shut off the water, they must notify the authorities within 4 hours. An investigation by FWC shows that FPL did notify them of the shutdown and is in compliance with all the rules, but the shutdown is still being blamed for the manatee deaths.”
Patrick Rose, executive director of Save the Manatee Club, agrees that everything was done according to the law, but the deaths are now sparking plans to add more manatee protections. Rose said, “They were forced with a shutdown they could not avoid. They stayed within the actual requirements of the protection plan, but as it turns out those requirements are not as good as we thought they were. So, we are aggressively trying to make certain now that we get back and look for new appropriate standards. In hindsight, they have agreed to even higher standards so if the plant goes out again, they would make sure they go on quicker.”
Manatees are so sensitive to cold weather; it is important to protect their habitat and ecosystem.
To learn more about the endangered Florida manatee, below is an awesome award-winning Kobee Manatee® book for children…
Synopsis: In late September, Kobee Manatee® is on a twelve-hundred-mile mission to get back home to Florida from Cape Cod, Massachusetts before the impending cold threatens his life. On his southbound journey, he meets two new friends: Tess the seahorse, who loves to learn, and Pablo the hermit crab, who is in search for a new shell. Will Kobee and his friends make it to Florida in time? Children learn all about manatees and their habitat!
We Have Excellent Reviews for Kobee Manatee!
“Children can learn a great deal about manatees and their habitat by reading about Kobee and his friends and their traveling adventure.” – Dr. Katie Tripp, Director of Science and Conservation, Save the Manatee Club
“This luxuriously illustrated, infectiously charming story makes us want to save the manatee and have a plush version to hug.” – Foreword Clarion Reviews
“A swimmingly fun, educational trip sure to be enjoyed by young friends of the manatee.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Kobee Manatee: Heading Home to Florida is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award. The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for parents and educators and is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. Using a rigorous evaluation process, entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost. Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media trust the MCA Honoring Excellence seal when selecting quality products and services for families and children.” – Mom’s Choice Awards
If you are in Florida and you see a sick or injured manatee, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC. They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.
Here’s the Save the Manatee Club link to learn more about manatees …
Save the Manatee Club Homepage
~ Robert Scott Thayer
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