Manatees at risk of starvation because native seagrass is dying due to water pollution have begun eating lettuce under an experimental feeding program.
Cool temperatures brought dozens of manatees to the Florida Power and Light Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach, Fla. Wednesday, Jan 19, 2022. Last year was devastating for the gentle creatures, with a record set for mortality. The sea cows come to the power plant discharge area to bask in the warm water.
“We think it's significant,” Mezich said in a remote news conference. “When the animals are there, we will continue to offerThe program is adding cabbage and a second type of lettuce to entice the manatees, also known as sea cows. All of these are common foods given to manatees at rehabilitation facilities.
About 25 to 35 manatees were seen Friday near the feeding site at a Florida Power & Light plant that discharges warm water the animals favor when water temperatures cool. Several hundred were spotted from the air in nearby areas, said Tom Reinert, south regional director for the FWC.