Broward County is facing a troubling start to 2026, with manatee mortalities already on track to exceed the yearly average. The County’s Marine Resources Team has confirmed five deaths so far this year, with an additional fatality reported near the Deerfield Beach county line. By comparison, the county recorded eight and seven manatee deaths in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Statewide, Florida is experiencing higher-than-expected manatee mortality, largely driven by erratic winter weather. Unseasonably warm periods followed by record-breaking cold have forced manatees to move frequently between summer feeding grounds and winter refuges. This constant movement increases the risk of Cold Stress Syndrome (CSS), a condition that can weaken manatees’ immune systems in water below 68°F, making them more vulnerable to illness or minor injuries.
Many manatees are congregating at warm-water refuges, including the Lauderdale Power Plant cooling lakes off the South Fork New River and the Port Everglades Power Plant cooling canal. Boaters are being urged to stay vigilant, watching for shadows or circular ripples known as “footprints” in these areas, particularly in the South Fork New River, Port Everglades, and Intracoastal Waterway.
Sightings can be reported through Broward County’s free “I Spy a Manatee” mobile app, which also provides real-time maps of state-regulated manatee protection and boating safety zones. The app requires location services to show which zones boaters are navigating.
Authorities stress caution as the early spike in deaths highlights the vulnerability of manatees to changing temperatures and human activity along the waterways.
