The 631 manatee deaths in Florida through mid-July this year already stands as the fourth deadliest annual count since records began nearly a half-century ago.
Though a blistering pace, the 2022 toll so far is behind the last year’s count of 864 for the same period. For 2021, a record 1,101 manatees died primarily from starvation along Central Florida’s coast in the Indian River system.
“I do not know where we will end up at the end of this year because statewide so much can happen,” said Martine de Wit, a state veterinarian and scientist, joining a briefing Wednesday by wildlife authorities on the status of a rapid die-off of manatees.
