Latest news with #Manatees
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Addie' the sea turtle released after months of rehab
MARATHON, Fla. – A resilient sea turtle and a crowd of spectators in the Florida Keys made Earth Day a special event in the Sunshine State. Video taken from the middle keys showed Addie, a green sea turtle, crawling through the white Florida sand, before entering the warm ocean water. But Addie's return to the wild was nothing short of a miracle, because when she was first admitted to the Florida Keys' Turtle Hospital in August, her prognosis was doubtful. The juvenile turtle was said to be suffering from a severe injury caused by a fishing hook and was covered in fibropapilloma tumors. According to staff at the animal hospital, Addie underwent an extensive surgery process to remove the metal and tumors but encountered additional complications. Following months of physical therapy and being fed through a tube, she began to quickly recover. "People want to do good things. And caring for sea turtles gives them something to care about," said Bette Zirkelbach, the hospital's manager. Florida Identifies Next Invasive Species Threat Hospital staff closely monitored Addie's progress over several months, and once she was considered to be strong enough to survive on her own, they determined the turtle was ready to be returned to the wild. The sea turtle's release coincided with Earth Day, an international event dedicated to raising awareness about the environment and promoting conservation efforts. The special day served as a fitting backdrop for the animal's return, especially as the green sea turtle population faces mounting threats from habitat loss, rising ocean temperatures, pollution and entanglements in fish gear. Manatees May Be Recent Arrivals To Florida, Study Suggests According to the World Wildlife Fund, green turtles are considered to be endangered because of loss of eggs and entanglement in fishing gear. In the U.S., the species is primarily found from North Carolina to Florida, around Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. According to the National Park Service, female green sea turtles generally nest during the summer, with peak season occurring in June and July. The Florida Keys' Turtle Hospital has been rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles since 1986 and has returned thousands of reptiles back to the article source: 'Addie' the sea turtle released after months of rehab
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Escambia County, Florida deputies find meth, cocaine and stolen car while searching home
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — Escambia County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested two people after they found methamphetamine, cocaine, guns and a stolen vehicle while searching a home, has learned. Gulf Breeze ice skater wins gold in Nashville According to an ECSO news release, the ECSO Narcotics Unit and SWAT Team served a search warrant at a home on Rue Max Street on April 15. During the search, officials said, they found 28 grams of meth, one gram of cocaine, two guns and a stolen vehicle. 38-year-old Ashley Long and 28-year-old Darmichael Turner were arrested during the execution of the search warrant. Long is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and drug paraphernalia. Manatees migrating to the Florida Panhandle — what boaters should know Turner is charged with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
565 manatees were reported dead in Florida last year: Here's what we've learned
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute released its final manatee mortality numbers for 2024. Last year, 565 of the sea cows were reported dead, with 100 in Brevard County alone. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] While not ideal, that number is lower than the 739 five-year average. Below are the local numbers. Note that they are much lower due to manatee populations being larger in central and southern Florida: Of the local deaths, two in Duval and two in St. Johns county were attributed to watercraft collisions. Human-related causes were responsible for about 30% of the total number of deaths in Florida that had a determined cause. FWC says 2024 has the second-highest observed number of structure-related (water control structures and navigational locks) deaths, with 17 incidents total. Of note is just how many calves didn't survive the year. 154 calves total died in 2024, far outpacing the previous high of 129 reported in 2013. The FWC says this may not be as concerning as it initially appears. The research institute says it is a likely sign of increased birth, meaning more manatees are recovering and reproducing. Read: Number of reported Florida manatee deaths declined in 2023, red tide and collisions remain threats Over half of the calf deaths were reported in the Indian River Lagoon, which is currently the subject of a lawsuit against the state. The environmental group. Bear Warriors United, alleges that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection violated the Endangered Species Act by reportedly allowing wastewater discharges into the lagoon. The group says the pollution has contributed to the death of seagrass, which Manatees need to survive. The lawsuit came after a record 1100 manatee deaths were reported in 2021, heavily concentrated in that area. The case is expected to go to trial. According to preliminary data by the FWC, there have been three manatee deaths locally so far in 2025. Two died in Putnam County, while another in Duval County died from cold stress last week. Read: Doctors at Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab saw highest influx of sea turtles in January [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Baby Manatee Getting 'Fresh' with Florida Diver Is Impossible to Resist
Growing up in Florida, I had a few close encounters with Manatees. There was the family of manatees that would swim up and down the river next to my high school. The injured animals who made their homes in the local aquarium. The giant creatures that would cluster so thickly in suburban cans during cold snaps that you could practically walk over their backs to cross the water. The slow, gentle manatee is one of the most famous (and photogenic) of the Florida megafauna, and unlike panthers or alligators, you don't mind it so much when one approaches you, as this diver recently discovered in a Florida spring. The young manatee in this clip seems to have taken a shine to Florida diver and tour guide Josh Sander, who posts on social media as 'FloridaGuideJosh.' Here, he is attempting to keep a respectful distance between himself and the manatee, but it's the manatee that is being aggressive.A seasoned guide like Josh knows exactly how one should respect hte wildlife around him. He even posts the guidelines that anyone boating, swimming, or diving in manatee-occupied areas is urged to follow: Keep a respectful distance (no touching or chasing) Avoid blocking their paths or crowding them Watch for signs of stress, like quick movements or bubble trails Unfortunately, in this case, it's the manatee that is making these guidelines difficult to follow. Please understand, this situation is extremely unusual, and as cute as it is to have this manatee nuzzling Josh's leg, you should never approach a wild manatee or touch them while swimming or boating near one. Baby manatees stay with their mothers and nurse for up to two years. During this time, they learn about foraging and migratory routes. Manatees are extremely sensitive to changes in water temperature and must spend cold winters inland, in warmer canals and freshwater springs with stable temperatures year round. The biggest dangers facing manatees are boating collisions and malnutrition. To help prevent accidents with manatees, experts advise boaters to wear polarized glasses when moving through waters where manatees are likely to be found, which helps them see under the water and avoid these deadly collisions. Manatee populations in Florida are suffering extreme food shortages right now, due to major reductions in their food sources of aquatic plants. Climate change and the hurricane season impacted vegetation in springs where manatees make their winter homes. Additionally, a lack of regulation regarding runoff and sewage treatment has also caused major food shortages. We hope this manatee isn't after the man intros video because he's hungry. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
