“Staff developed a contingency plan which they will implement if needed.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, regarding its decision to stop its experimental feeding program for starving manatees as the seagrass, upon which manatees depend, has started to recover in key winter foraging areas on the state’s east coast and fewer manatees appear to be in poor physical condition headed into the winter season. More than 400,000 pounds of lettuce was fed to the manatees near Cocoa, Fl., last year as part of the two-year program. (Associated Press — Dec. 5, 2023)