Frigid Winter Kills Native and Invading Florida Wildlife

A record number of Florida manatees have died this winter due to severe and extended cold periods.

Another round of bitterly cold weather blowing across Florida has killed even more native and invasive species there.

The chill is believed to have killed off large numbers of invaders such as Burmese and African pythons, iguanas and non-native fish.

Dead corpses of the unwelcome intruders have recently been found by licensed trackers and hikers.

But the harsh conditions have also proven deadly for the benign and native manatees in the state’s coastal waters.

Wildlife officials report nearly 300 carcasses of the marine mammals have washed up on shore so far this year, with the majority dying due to the cold.

The warm-blooded subtropical animals are unable to cope when water temperatures drop below 68 degrees, since their fat is not designed to insulate them from the cold.

During January, Florida’s coastal water temperatures dropped into the 40s, causing manatees to die from various shock-related causes.

Photo: Amanda Cotton - iStockphoto