“For too long, we have degraded and destroyed the Florida manatee’s habitat through pollution, dredging and blocking access to the natural warm water springs vital to its winter survival,” said Jane ...

Even though manatees can be seen in Florida year-round ... perhaps causing them to lose their natural fear of boats and humans, which may make them more susceptible to harm," the FWC site warns.

By 1975, they were named the official marine mammal of Florida. While they have no natural predators, manatees have very ... that make them vulnerable to habitat loss and to dangerous interactions ...

Florida's youngest manatees died in record ... although that's not unusual because of the lagoon's vast expanse of manatee seagrass habitat. But chronic algal blooms over the past 15 years have ...

CRYSTAL RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — Brier Ryver had just spent the workday with five dozen schoolchildren on the shores of Kings Bay, teaching them the importance of Florida’s wild places ...