LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Florida Fish and Wildlife have some disturbing numbers on the number of manatee deaths off Florida's coast.
FWC says the overall number of manatee deaths is similar to the last five years. But they say the number of boating-related deaths is significantly higher than years past.
They say from January to June of this year, 86 manatees have been killed by boating injuries. The average for the past five years has been 53.
FWC wants to reverse this alarming trend, but they need your help to do it. They say when out on the water Keep a sharp watch out for sea cows and make sure you're following posted speed limits in manatee zones.
Manatees can also be hard to see with the naked eye, it's recommended to wear polarized sunglasses to make them easier to spot.
They say if you *do* hit a manatee, call the agency at 1-888-404-F-W-C-C.
