MATLACHA, Fla. — New data reveals Lee County had the second-highest number of manatee deaths in Florida in 2025, a statistic that doesn’t surprise local environmentalists and boat captains who witness the challenges these marine mammals face daily.
Fox 4’s Bella Line gives us a rundown of the numbers:
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lee County accounted for 113 of the 628 manatee deaths statewide in 2025, representing nearly 18% of Florida’s total manatee fatalities…