State wildlife officials have documented 23 Florida panther deaths so far this year, leaving as few as 120 of the big cats surviving in the wild. Vehicles killed 21 of the panthers. The cause of death for the other two is unknown, state officials say. A record 27 panthers were reported dead in 2021. Vehicles … Read more
It’s every man – make that manatee – for himself. Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved a plan allowing hundreds of boats to cruise through sensitive manatee habitat in Biscayne Bay during the 2022 Miami Boat Show, which runs through Feb. 20. They OK’ed the plan even though their own environmental experts recommended against it. Nearly 10,000 … Read more
By 2070, Florida’s population is expected to jump to 34 million, from nearly 22 million, as urban development devours 7 million acres of rural and natural land the size of Vermont. New construction – including shopping centers, restaurants, roads and subdivisions – is expected to trigger a loss of wildlife. “More than 1.6 million acres … Read more
Environmental activists on Tuesday sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, alleging that the agency has failed to protect the beloved Florida manatee in violation of the Endangered Species Act and other federal regulations. The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and the Save the Manatee Club say the federal government’s inaction threatens the … Read more