BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Florida’s beloved manatees, affectionately known as the “cows of the sea,” are always a sight to behold as they grace our Florida waters.
However, since the beginning of 2021, the sea cow population is decreasing at an alarmingly fast rate.
In the first five weeks of 2021, manatee deaths in Florida reached more than half of what they were in all of 2020.
As of February 24, more than 350 manatee deaths have been recorded in Florida in 2021, which is three times the usual average for the same time period, according to The Weather Channel.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, at least 358 manatees have died in Florida since Jan. 1.