Wildlife Conservation

In an effort to help manatees battle the cold temperatures, Florida Power & Light's Cape Canaveral Clean Energy Center has been heating the water on an emergency basis, to prevent as many manatees as possible from dying from the cold. State and federal biologists have been feeding manatees there since mid December to stave off a mass starvation that's been going on in the Indian River Lagoon for more than a year.

Gov. DeSantis commits $30 million to save manatees after record number of deaths

Tom Bayles

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will include more than $30 million in the state's 2023 budget to try and figure out why record numbers of manatees are dying in Florida waters. Scientists blame agriculture and development for polluting the rivers where manatees live.

Construction site located on Ben Hill Griffin, across from Florida Gulf Coast University's campus. When land is cleared, wildlife is forced to relocate and pushed out of their natural habitat.

Increases in development in SWFL cause some to question the preservation of wildlife

Katiuska Carrillo

Cleared land and construction sites are commonplace in Southwest Florida. According to U.S. Census data, Lee County is the second fastest-growing county in the state. The increase in population leads to the need for more development, which raises the question of how to preserve the wildlife that makes this region so unique.

Environmental Round Up, Week ending Oct. 24

Valerie Vande Panne

Welcome to this week’s Environmental Roundup! Here’s what caught our eye in the environment this week.

Anglers Urged to "Mind Your Line" as Wayward Fishing Gear Harms Wildlife

Andrea Perdomo

As Southwest Florida prepares for an influx of people during the winter months, a handful of conservation groups in Sanibel are encouraging visitors and…