Did you know that as of March 14, 2025 the Unusual Mortality Event (UME) impacting manatees along Florida’s East Coast, driven by starvation due to seagrass loss, was officially closed. Despite the devastating loss of 1,255 manatees from December 2020 to April 2022, a combination of strategic interventions has significantly improved conditions for the species. Collaborative efforts by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) led to critical rescue and rehabilitation efforts, saving 137 manatees during the UME. A supplemental feeding trial supplied 600,000 pounds of leafy greens over two winters, helping manatees endure the seagrass shortage. Today, manatee mortality has returned to expected levels, and sightings of mating herds and cow-calf pairs are further signs of recovery. While seagrass is slowly rebounding, ongoing threats from habitat degradation and watercraft collisions underscore the need for continued monitoring and conservation efforts #SaveTheManatees #WildlifeWednesday Footage by: @michaelgeorge