On a chilly winter day manatee sightings are guaranteed at Lee County’s Manatee Park where the animals converge in the outflow from a Florida Power and Light plant. Admirers like Fred Giddings from Kalamazoo, Mich., line the walkway.   

“We always come to see the manatees, they are very relaxing and it’s kind of neat to watch them, they’re so calm and gentle,” he said.  

But, today the spectators are joined by researchers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Using a long pole with needle attached to the end they’re collecting tissue samples from the closely packed animals for use in research.  FWC Scientist Joel Ortega Ortiz heads the team.  He said their work is similar to the TV show CSI.

“We do a genetic ID, it’s one of the monitoring methods the FWC uses to track the population and from that information we can learn if the population is growing or steady or decreasing,” he said.

The state just released its manatee mortality numbers for 2011. With 456 carcasses found in state waters last year, it was the second highest count on record.  Ortega Ortiz said the genetic samples would also help researchers analyze those findings.

“We do a necropsy on them and by doing a skin sample on them right now we can match the animals we see here today, we would know if they are hit by a boat or die of other causes, – we will know that that manatee was here today,” he said.

Cold stress is blamed for 112 manatee deaths last year.  Researchers are working to lower those cold deaths by protecting foraging and warm water habitats.  And, warm water gathering places like Manatee Park will help the cause by increasing awareness about these unique marine mammals.