>> NOBODY WANTS TO MANATEES YOU KNOW? >> SOMETHING IS KILLING MANATEES NEAR BIG HICKORY ISLAND IN LEE COUNTY. BUT THE REASON IS STILL A MYSTERY. GULF COAST REPORTER EDWARD FRANCO WENT OUT ON THE WATER WITH THE OWNER OF A POWER BOARD TOUR COMPANY TO SHOW YOU THE PROBLEM AND WHAT’S BEING DONE ABOUT IT. >> NICK SCHWARTZ IS OFTEN GUIDING PEOPLE AROUND ESTERO BAY WITH PADDLE NAPLES. IT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR HIM TO SEE A MANATEE WHEN HE’S OUT ON THE WATER OFF BIG HICKORY ISLAND. BUT YESTERDAY CITING WAS DIFFERENT. SOUND HAVE TO THE TEAM AND IT’S EASIEST. >> IT WE USE. >> UPSIDE DOWN. >> HE TOOK US OUT ON A KAYAK INTO THE WATER NEARBY WHERE A FLORIDA MANATEE WAS FOUND EVENTUALLY FOUNDED UNDER THE MANGROVES AS THE TIDE WAS DOWN RIGHT NEXT TO A CHANNEL WHERE BOATS WERE GOING FAST. >> I FEEL LIKE OUT THERE ENOUGH REPORTS OF SOMEBODY GETTING HIT BY A CAR. THEY PUT UP A STOP SIGN SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT AMENITIES. SCHWARTZ REPORTED THIS ONE TO WILDLIFE OFFICERS. >> THE SCIENTISTS FGCU ALSO HELPED RECOVER TO MORE DEAD MANATEES. >> THE SAME DAY THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE SECOND PART IS RECOVERY WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, WHICH IS A REALLY DISTURBING HIGH MEMBER. LEE COUNTY HAS ALREADY SEEN 95 MANATEE DEATHS THIS YEAR FROM 85 TOTAL DEATHS JUST LAST YEAR, 9 REPORTED DEATHS THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN DUE TO WATER CRAFT INJURIES. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO IS SLOW DOWN THE WATER. MAKE SURE YOUR BODY BY THE MANATEE ZONES THAT NO WAKE ZONES, THAT KIND OF THING THAT WE WANT TO SEE MANATEES ARE AND WHAT? >> AROUND HERE, WE JUST >> AT THE STAY. STAY VIGILANT. FWC HAS NOT CONFIRMED WHAT EXACTLY CAUSED THE 3 MANATEE DEATHS, BU
Three dead manatees, including a calf, were discovered near Big Hickory Island in Estero Bay, raising concerns about the safety of these threatened species in Florida waters. Nick Schwartz, who often guides people around Estero Bay with Paddle Naples, described the sighting as unusual. “We found a four and a half to five foot baby manatee. It was, face up, upside down in the water, and its belly up,” Schwartz said.Schwartz and Gulf Coast News Reporter Edward Franco went out on a kayak and paddleboard to the area where the dead manatee was found, under the mangroves near a channel where boats were speeding. He reported the sighting to wildlife officers, emphasizing the need for protective measures. “I feel like after enough reports of somebody getting hit by a car, they put up a stop sign. It should be no different than manatees,” Schwartz said, talking about extending the No-Wake Zone.Scientists from Florida Gulf Coast University also helped recover two more dead manatees the same day. FGCU student Allison Sanchez expressed concern over the increasing number of carcass recoveries. “This was actually the second carcass recovery within the last week, which is a really disturbing high number,” Sanchez said.Lee County has already recorded 95 manatee deaths this year, up from 85 total deaths last year, with nine attributed to watercraft injuries so far this year. Sanchez urged boaters to slow down and respect manatee zones. “One of the biggest things that people can do is slow down the water, make sure you’re abiding by the manatee zones, the no wake zones,” she said.Schwartz echoed the sentiment, stressing vigilance on the water. “Nobody wants to see manatees hurt, you know? But, when we’re out here, we just have to stay vigilant,” Schwartz said.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has not yet confirmed the cause of the three manatee deaths, but is investigating the incident.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. —
Three dead manatees, including a calf, were discovered near Big Hickory Island in Estero Bay, raising concerns about the safety of these threatened species in Florida waters.
Nick Schwartz, who often guides people around Estero Bay with Paddle Naples, described the sighting as unusual.
“We found a four and a half to five foot baby manatee. It was, face up, upside down in the water, and its belly up,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz and Gulf Coast News Reporter Edward Franco went out on a kayak and paddleboard to the area where the dead manatee was found, under the mangroves near a channel where boats were speeding.
He reported the sighting to wildlife officers, emphasizing the need for protective measures. “I feel like after enough reports of somebody getting hit by a car, they put up a stop sign. It should be no different than manatees,” Schwartz said, talking about extending the No-Wake Zone.
Scientists from Florida Gulf Coast University also helped recover two more dead manatees the same day. FGCU student Allison Sanchez expressed concern over the increasing number of carcass recoveries.
“This was actually the second carcass recovery within the last week, which is a really disturbing high number,” Sanchez said.
Lee County has already recorded 95 manatee deaths this year, up from 85 total deaths last year, with nine attributed to watercraft injuries so far this year.
Sanchez urged boaters to slow down and respect manatee zones. “One of the biggest things that people can do is slow down the water, make sure you’re abiding by the manatee zones, the no wake zones,” she said.
Schwartz echoed the sentiment, stressing vigilance on the water. “Nobody wants to see manatees hurt, you know? But, when we’re out here, we just have to stay vigilant,” Schwartz said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has not yet confirmed the cause of the three manatee deaths, but is investigating the incident.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.