HOMOSASSA, Fla. – An investigation is now underway to determine what precipitated a number of manatees to die within the Homosassa River in Citrus County.
What we all know:
Since February a minimum of 9 manatee deaths have been recorded.
“It first began with neighbors calling me and saying, have you ever observed all of the useless catfish? And I stated, yeah, you realize, we have observed like three, 5 herons. I do not know what is going on on,” Citrus County Commissioner Diana Finegan stated.
FWC investigating 9 manatee deaths in 6 weeks within the Homosassa River
FWC has been investigating the manatee and catfish deaths since final week.
In keeping with FWC’s web site, fish kills happen regularly in Florida and typically they’re the results of pure causes.
Nonetheless the quantity of manatee deaths is puzzling for residents and folks like Finegan whose district encompasses the Homosassa River space.
“It’s totally regarding. Anytime you see dying of any form, even catfish floating within the water as a result of you do not know what it is from. You understand, fish kills occur. So possibly there was a altering local weather or one thing affordable that you may clarify it,” Finegan stated.
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In keeping with the FWC, a minimum of 4 of the manatees have been necropsied.
FWC investigating 9 manatee deaths in 6 weeks within the Homosassa River
Many of the manatees discovered have been 10 ft or longer.
What we do not know:
As for what’s inflicting the deaths, Finegan says an preliminary investigation by FWC discovered a distinct digestive biome within the manatees, however it’s nonetheless too early to inform precisely what’s inflicting the deaths.
“We’ve got little or no info right now. However I’m grateful to our companions at FWC for bringing this up relatively rapidly and holding their job and investigating,” Finegan stated.
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The Supply: Info for this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Jordan Bowen.
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