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NEW AT FIVE A NEW STATE REPORT BLAMES THIS YEAR’S COLD SNAP FOR A SURGE IN MANATEE DEATHS IN FLORIDA. WESH 2 NEWS BREVARD COUNTY REPORTER MEGAN MORIARTY HAS THE NUMBERS AND WHAT WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY COMES NEXT. THE DROP IN TEMPERATURES IN FLORIDA LED TO AN INCREASE IN MANATEE DEATHS STATEWIDE. AND THEN THIS YEAR WAS UNPRECEDENTED. YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN’T HAD COLD LIKE THIS SINCE 2020 TEN. THE LATEST NUMBERS FROM FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SHOW THERE’S BEEN 176 MANATEE DEATHS TOTAL SO FAR FOR 2026. IN 2025, WE HAD 632 TOTAL FOR THE YEAR. WHILE WATERCRAFT RELATED DEATHS SEEM TO BE THE PRIMARY CAUSE. WE HAD AN EXTREMELY HIGH NUMBER OF COLD STRESS RELATED DEATHS AT 35, WITH SEVEN OF THOSE HERE IN BREVARD COUNTY. THE MANATEES CAN SUCCUMB TO COLD STRESS IF THEY HAVE PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO WATER TEMPERATURES BELOW 68°F, AND THEN THEY CAN ALSO SUFFER FROM HYPOTHERMIA IF THAT WATER GETS INTO THE 30S AND 40S. KELLY HUNSAKER IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF OCEANOGRAPHY AT FLORIDA TECH AND SAYS, DURING OUR COLD STRETCH EARLIER THIS YEAR, TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 50S IN THE LAGOON. WE EVEN SAW A 400 POUND MANATEE GET STUCK INSIDE A STORM DRAIN, WHILE PRESUMABLY SEARCHING FOR A PLACE TO STAY WARM. HE WAS ULTIMATELY RESCUED AND IS REHABILITATING AT SEAWORLD, BUT THE COLD SHOCK REALLY TOOK A TOLL ON THE POPULATION. BUT THERE’S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, SO I THOUGHT FWC REPORT WAS REALLY PROMISING FROM 2025, WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD LESS MANATEE CASUALTIES LAST YEAR, IT WAS LOWER THAN THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE, SO THAT WAS REALLY PROMISING. WE’RE ALSO SEEING SEAGRASS COME BACK IN THE LAGOON, WHICH IS MANATEES PRIMARY FOOD SOURCE. SO SO THAT’S ALSO REALLY PROMISING. HUNSAKER ALSO URGES BOATERS TO STILL KEEP AN EYE O
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A new state report has linked this year’s cold snap in Florida to an increase in manatee deaths, with cold stress identified as a significant factor affecting the marine mammals.Kelli Hunsucker, an associate professor of oceanography at Florida Tech, said, “This year was unprecedented. You know, we haven’t had cold like this since 2010.”The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported 176 manatee deaths so far in 2026, compared to 632 total deaths in 2025.While watercraft-related incidents remain the primary cause, cold-stress deaths have notably increased, with 35 cases statewide and seven in Brevard County.”The manatees can succumb to cold stress if they have prolonged exposure to water temperatures below 68 degrees, and then they can also suffer from hypothermia if the water gets into the 30s, 40s,” Hunsucker said. During the cold stretch earlier this year, temperatures in the lagoon dropped to the 50s, affecting the manatee population.A 400-pound manatee was rescued from a storm drain, where it was likely seeking warmth, and is now rehabilitating at SeaWorld.Despite the challenges, Hunsucker sees hope in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s report from 2025, noting, “I thought FWC’s report was really promising from 2025, where we actually had less manatee casualties last year — it was lower than the five-year average, so that was really promising. We’re also seeing sea grass come back in the lagoon, which is a manatee’s primary food source, so that’s really promising.”Hunsucker also urges boaters to remain vigilant for manatees while enjoying the water.
A new state report has linked this year’s cold snap in Florida to an increase in manatee deaths, with cold stress identified as a significant factor affecting the marine mammals.
Kelli Hunsucker, an associate professor of oceanography at Florida Tech, said, “This year was unprecedented. You know, we haven’t had cold like this since 2010.”
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported 176 manatee deaths so far in 2026, compared to 632 total deaths in 2025.
While watercraft-related incidents remain the primary cause, cold-stress deaths have notably increased, with 35 cases statewide and seven in Brevard County.
“The manatees can succumb to cold stress if they have prolonged exposure to water temperatures below 68 degrees, and then they can also suffer from hypothermia if the water gets into the 30s, 40s,” Hunsucker said.
During the cold stretch earlier this year, temperatures in the lagoon dropped to the 50s, affecting the manatee population.
A 400-pound manatee was rescued from a storm drain, where it was likely seeking warmth, and is now rehabilitating at SeaWorld.
Despite the challenges, Hunsucker sees hope in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s report from 2025, noting, “I thought FWC’s report was really promising from 2025, where we actually had less manatee casualties last year — it was lower than the five-year average, so that was really promising. We’re also seeing sea grass come back in the lagoon, which is a manatee’s primary food source, so that’s really promising.”
Hunsucker also urges boaters to remain vigilant for manatees while enjoying the water.
