BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — A report says 35 manatees across Florida have died as a result of cold stress syndrome in January.
The Bradenton Herald reports the deaths between Jan. 1 and Jan. 26 were tallied in a preliminary report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The commission says that was five times as many deaths compared to the same period in 2017. But it doesn’t come close to the 151 manatees that died during a cold snap in January 2010.
Cold stress syndrome can occur when the marine mammals encounter water below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius) for a prolonged period. Manatees experience hypothermia, their organs start to shut down and their skin begins to slough off.
Wildlife officials said another 10 manatees died statewide last month because of boat collisions.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.