A cold January creates fatal situation for state's manatees

Manatee death toll from cold tops 100

By DINAH VOYLES PULVER
for the West Volusia News-Journal Online
on January 27, 2010

A record number of endangered Florida manatees died as a result of the 11 days of frigid cold in early January.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported Tuesday that more than 100 dead manatees have been recovered so far this year and the number continues to mount daily.

At least 77 adult manatee deaths were attributed to cold-stress syndrome, a condition caused by prolonged exposure to cold water. That number breaks the record 56 cold-related deaths set in 2009.

Meanwhile, commission biologists also suspect the cold caused the deaths of several newborn manatees.

One adult manatee was found dead in the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler Beach and a newborn was found dead in the St. Johns River near Orange City, according to commission records.

The freezing cold temperatures caused water temperatures to plummet statewide, which had a dramatic impact on much of Florida's wildlife, forcing the rescue of thousands of green sea turtles, killing hundreds more and killing thousands of fish.

The wildlife commission asks anyone who spots a dead or distressed manatee to call its wildlife alert hot line at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/WestVolusia/wvlWEST07ENV012710.htm