More Manatees Are Counted, But With Caveats

More manatees than ever were spotted in Florida waters this year during the state's annual count, but scientists say the high number has more to do with weather conditions during the census than with an increasing population of sea cows.

In survey flights last week, observers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission counted 3,807 manatees, about 500 more than the last high count in 2001.

The larger number is a good sign, but not an indication of more manatees than in 2001, said Holly Edwards, research scientist with the FWC.

"It gives us a minimum count; we know that there are at least that many animals in the state," Edwards said, adding that the state only surveys areas where manatees are known to congregate. "We know that we missed some. We just don't know the magnitude of how many we missed."

This year and in 2001, cold weather drove manatees to gather in warm inland waters and clear skies helped observers see the large marine mammals.

Manatees, aquatic cousins of the elephant, are protected as an endangered species under state and federal laws. Florida manatees are a subspecies of the West Indian manatee and have been native to this region for millions of years, Edwards said.

The exact number of manatees in Florida today is still uncertain, but recent studies indicate that their population is growing in all parts of the state except Southwest Florida, where deadly red tide blooms pose a greater threat.

Manatee protection advocates estimate the number to be somewhere below 4,000. Boating activists say there are more than 5,000.