State wildlife officers are beefing up patrols in key areas around the state where manatees are dying in alarming numbers after colliding with boats.Two of those counties are in Central Florida.WESH 2 News looked at what’s being done to protect the sea cows.Many people have a love affair with manatees; they are large, but graceful as they make their way through Florida waters.Boaters, however, if they aren’t careful, create a major risk for manatees.There have been 330 manatees that have died from a variety of causes so far this year — 90 of them died as a result of collisions with boats.Wildlife officers really want people to pay attention to the signs posted along the waterway. If manatees are likely to be in a certain spot, a person will be asked to slow down.Ten manatees have been hit and killed already in Volusia County this year; nine have been killed in Brevard County.Officers suggest boaters wear polarized sunglasses to cut down on glare.Last year, 467 manatees died — 71 of those deaths were attributed to boat strikes. That’s 19 less than this year, and the year’s not over.The posted signs are the law, not a suggestion.On a positive note, experts say manatees have rebounded dramatically over the years.They were once endangered, with just over a thousand left alive. Now, the Florida population is estimated at over 6,000.
State wildlife officers are beefing up patrols in key areas around the state where manatees are dying in alarming numbers after colliding with boats.
Two of those counties are in Central Florida.
WESH 2 News looked at what’s being done to protect the sea cows.
Many people have a love affair with manatees; they are large, but graceful as they make their way through Florida waters.
Boaters, however, if they aren’t careful, create a major risk for manatees.
There have been 330 manatees that have died from a variety of causes so far this year — 90 of them died as a result of collisions with boats.
Wildlife officers really want people to pay attention to the signs posted along the waterway. If manatees are likely to be in a certain spot, a person will be asked to slow down.
Ten manatees have been hit and killed already in Volusia County this year; nine have been killed in Brevard County.
Officers suggest boaters wear polarized sunglasses to cut down on glare.
Last year, 467 manatees died — 71 of those deaths were attributed to boat strikes. That’s 19 less than this year, and the year’s not over.
The posted signs are the law, not a suggestion.
On a positive note, experts say manatees have rebounded dramatically over the years.
They were once endangered, with just over a thousand left alive. Now, the Florida population is estimated at over 6,000.
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