An algae bloom called red tide has been largely to blame for the record-breaking number of manatee deaths in Lee County this year, but the bloom has been slowly dissipating.

Kevin Baxter, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said this doesn’t mean the bloom won’t claim any more manatees, though.

“In past years when we’ve had red tide blooms we have seen manatee deaths continue up to a couple or few months after the bloom has ended,” he said.

Baxter said that’s because even though the bloom is gone, the neurotoxin it emitted was absorbed by the sea grasses, which the manatees eat.

So far this year, 566 manatees have died. About half of those deaths are attributed to this year’s red tide event in Southwest Florida.

Baxter said there likely won’t be as many manatee deaths moving forward, but boaters and residents are still asked to be on the lookout for manatees in distress.

You can call the FWC hotline, 1-888-404-3922, if you see a manatee in distress.