DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating a huge spike in manatee deaths across the state while biologists and other experts are left wondering why so many of the threatened species are dying.
In the first six weeks of 2021, there were 317 manatee deaths across the state, according to the FWC. That’s almost half of all deaths reported in Florida for all of last year when 638 manatees died. [TRENDING: Florida women dress as grannies to get vaccinated | NASA sticks landing on Mars | Puppy schemes rise during pandemic] “You also have probably another 40 manatees that have had to be rescued as well,” said Patrick Rose, a biologist and the executive director of the local Save the Manatee Club.