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<v 0>This so-called unusual mortality event sorted in December, 2020 as Manatee</v>

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headed to warmer spots for the winter months, they were dying in record numbers,

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mostly on the east coast due to a lack of sea grass,

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their main food source in places like the Indian river lagoon.

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<v 1>The seagrass and lagoon is a, a, uh, plant that requires light,</v>

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like most land plans to, to grow. Um,

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and the persistent algae blooms that occurred and have been occurring over the

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last, uh, eight to 10 years, um, blocks like.

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<v 0>Anticipating a similar outcome. This winter, a joint unified command was formed,</v>

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led by us fish and wildlife and the Florida fish and wildlife conservation and

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commission this past month,

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FWC says 23 manatees have been rescued 20 of those on the east coast.

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The command has also set up a temporary field response station at FPLs Cape

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Canaveral, clean energy center,

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working to provide lettuce as an extra food source to the manatees.

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It's an effort they say has not been done before with why manatees many who

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aren't recognizing the lettuce as food just yet.

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<v 1>We don't always see the same animals on a regular basis. So it's a,</v>

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it's a challenge. We are offering the lettuce in different forms. Um,

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not only floating, but in the water column and submerge,

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we are confident at some point we'll, we'll find a trigger that works.

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And while they.

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<v 0>Haven't seen an influx manatees yet with the higher temperatures recently,</v>

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they are expecting the population to increase.

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As temperatures drop throughout the winter.

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FWC says calls into the wildlife alert hotline have been critical to getting the

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manatees, the help they need.

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<v 2>For this event. I think what we're looking for, I mean,</v>

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animals that are in respiratory distress.

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So an animal that's breathing once every minute or, or,

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or more frequent than that, um,

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animals that aren't just aren't moving or reacting.

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<v 0>Well, fracky weather. I'm Kim Leffler.</v>