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No Answers in Brevard Manatee Die-off


June 25, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando -- A new report shows more manatees are dying in Brevard County than anywhere else statewide. The deaths are a mystery but not unprecedented.

The report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows 28 manatees have died for unknown reasons since January. That's more than any other county statewide.

Scott Calleson of Florida Fish and Wildlife says that's a lot of manatee deaths, but not the most Florida has ever experienced.

"Manatees throughout the east coast of Florida and southwest Florida in particular have periodic large-scale mortality events either from red tide or cold weather. This one as yet is unexplained, and so we don't know what's causing it."

He says the deaths are linked to problems in the Indian River Lagoon, but it’s tough to pin the deaths on one thing.

"It's not that they've stopped eating. It's almost like it's a shock, indications of a shock and/or drowning in the animals, which is a little unusual." 

Widespread water quality problems in the Indian River Lagoon have killed off dolphins, pelicans and manatees and more than half of the lagoon's sea grass.

Calleson says the manatee population can recover. 

 

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