Manatee deaths from cold stress in January and February have almost tripled the five-year average in Florida.
March 9, 2026, 5:09 a.m. ET Record cold in early 2026 caused 35 manatee deaths in Florida, nearly triple the five-year average. Despite recent deaths, Florida's overall manatee population was estimated to be between 8,350 and 11,730 in 2021-2022. A …