MANATEE MORTALITY 2004 St. Petersburg, FLâ€â€ÂÂÂBiologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) have confirmed that 276 manatees were documented to have died in state waters in 2004. While the total of 276 for 2004 appears to be a big drop from 2003’s total of 370, 96 of those animals in 2003 are suspected to have died due to a prolonged
(Mortality data provided by Ken Arrison)
According to preliminary reports, 69 manatees died this year due to watercraft-related injuries. That number (69) is consistent with past years, with watercraft representing 25% of total manatee mortality. With several periods of prolonged cold weather, the number of manatees dying from cold stress was higher with 49 deaths in 2004. When the water temperature falls below 68 degrees, manatees, particularly juveniles, become more susceptible to cold stress. Other causes of manatee deaths include floodgate and canal lock, other human causes, and natural.
Visit http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=14855 to view manatee mortality statistics and related information. The Manatee Mortality Online Search allows users to find manatee mortality information by county, cause of death, and date from 1974 through October 31, 2004. Two report formats are available: a summary report that lists the search results in a numbers-only table and an individual report that provides detailed information such as sex, size, region, and cause of death. The 2004 preliminary manatee mortality report compares the 2004 preliminary mortality totals with those in 2003, 2002, and a 5-year mortality average.
To report a dead or injured manatee, please call toll free 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
MANATEE MORTALITY 2004
(Mortality data provided by Ken Arrison)
St. Petersburg, FLâ€â€ÂÂÂBiologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) have confirmed that 276 manatees were documented to have died in state waters in 2004.
While the total of 276 for 2004 appears to be a big drop from 2003’s total of 370, 96 of those animals in 2003 are suspected to have died due to a prolonged
red tide event in Southwest Florida. In 2004 only 4 manatees are suspected to have died due to red tide.According to preliminary reports, 69 manatees died this year due to watercraft-related injuries. That number (69) is consistent with past years, with watercraft representing 25% of total manatee mortality. With several periods of prolonged cold weather, the number of manatees dying from cold stress was higher with 49 deaths in 2004. When the water temperature falls below 68 degrees, manatees, particularly juveniles, become more susceptible to cold stress.
Other causes of manatee deaths include floodgate and canal lock, other human causes, and natural.Visit http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=14855 to view manatee mortality statistics and related information. The
Manatee Mortality Online Search allows users to find manatee mortality information by county, cause of death, and date from 1974 through October 31, 2004. Two report formats are available: a summary report that lists the search results in a numbers-only table and an individual report that provides detailed information such as sex, size, region, and cause of death. The 2004 preliminary manatee mortality report compares the 2004 preliminary mortality totals with those in 2003, 2002, and a 5-year mortality average.To report a dead or injured manatee, please call toll free 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).