The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to rule soon on downlisting the Florida manatee from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. AP ARCHIVE

In a year of record deaths for two of Florida’s iconic animals, what’s next?

For a lot of people, 2016 was a bad year: Brexit happened, so did Harambe, and who can forget when clowns took over the country?

It turns out Florida’s iconic animals were not spared from the destruction this year, but what’s worse is that they have an uncertain future ahead of them.

In 2016, a record 34 panthers were killed by vehicle collisions, up four deaths from last year’s record number, and a record 104 manatees were killed by boats, an increase from the previous record of 97 deaths by boat strikes set in 2009.

Both animals have a long history of conservation within the state and both are on the endangered species list. After the Florida panther population hit a low of about 30 to 40 panthers in South Florida in the mid-1990s, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission introduced Texan cougars–in the same species–to the population and numbers grew. Now they estimate there are between 100-180 panthers in the state–and the record death numbers confirm that.

“It’s a bad way to confirm the fact that we do have more panthers,” Florida Fish and Wildlife’s panther team leader Darrell Land said. “We’d prefer to have a less lethal way to do that. We are trying to prevent future collisions, but we don’t think that these losses are contributing right now to a decline in panther numbers.”

As for the manatees, Florida Fish and Wildlife scientists say their numbers are significant insofar as they show that the death numbers need to be monitored over time.

“”The significance is that the watercraft mortalities are consistent over the years and are a consistent threat to manatees,” said Martine deWit, the director of the state Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab. “Unless the number goes down dramatically, it is something that needs to be monitored and paid attention to in management actions and law enforcement.”

Now, how does the future look for these animals? Here are the two initiatives that call into question the way these animals will live in the coming years:

A) Advancing development in Collier County that could threaten more than 150,000 acres of land currently home to 10 federally listed and six state endangered species, including the panther.

When would this happen? Unclear. Landowners applied for an incidental take permit that would allow them to build on the land as early as 2015, but U.S. Fish and Wildlife–a federal agency–is still determining the application’s status.

Still, it seems unlikely that they will reject. From 2010 through 2016, the agency’s South Florida Ecological Services Office issued 17 incidental take permits, and no applications were rejected, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokesman.

B) Possible downlisting of the manatee from endangered to threatened species 

When would this happen? The decision is slated to happen early this year. U.S. Fish and Wildlife had a public comment period beginning Jan. 2016, which was largely met with opposition. Now they debate. A spokesman said its “in its final stages of being reviewed.”

Will 2017 better serve these iconic Florida animals? Only time will tell.

meet the writer

Elizabeth Djinis

the latest

Derek occasionally gets homework assignments from daycare. It mostly consists of him learning how to trace his own name, and some very simple math problems – simple if you’re way above the age of 4, that it is. But it’s homework nonetheless. And we want Derek to know the importance of school, especially since he’ll … MORE>>
10. “Rides are always free,” drivers say. “Tips are always appreciated.” 9. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 8. Call 941-444-2585 for an iRide. (Soon there will be a Gotcha app for smartphones.) There are no set routes; you can hail any of the colorful electric vehicles you see on the street. 7. The downtown service area extends … MORE>>
Derek has decided he wants to be a firefighter when he gets older. Keep in mind he’s 4 and he can’t decide what color pajamas he wants to wear to bed. So that may change. But the good thing is I have used this to our advantage. Derek wants to grow and big to become … MORE>>
OMG, OMG, OMG! Fans are finally getting to see the first teaser trailer for the latest Star Wars film. The trailer was officially released at “Star Wars Celebration” in Orlando today. “The Last Jedi” (Episode VIII) will be in theaters on December 15.   The offical poster has also been released.         … MORE>>
Apparently, today is National Beer Day. April 7th is the celebration of when beer became legal again in the United States after the Cullen-Harrison Act was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt on March 23, 1933. Sounds like it may have caught on as National Beer Day in 2009, when Justin Smith of Richmond, … MORE>>
Thanks to the city of Sarasota, Lido Beach just got a bright new addition: a cerulean marker displaying how high sea levels are projected to rise in the next 100 years. Here’s the thing–the facts are scary. We said it. To name just a few: In less than 15 years, by 2030, sea levels are … MORE>>
I hate eggs. Hate them. You can scramble them, poach them, make them sunny side up, and then you can go ahead and stuff yourself because I want nothing to do with them. I have a hard time watching people eat eggs. I liked French toast until someone told me it was nothing more than … MORE>>
Ringling College of Art + Design will be showcasing the best work in each major, in the annual Best of Ringling. The outstanding student work was selected by a jury of visiting artists and faculty members. The majors include: Advertising Design 
Business of Art and Design Computer Animation Film Fine Arts 
Game Art Graphic Design … MORE>>
It’s rare to see eight female filmmakers lined up in a row discussing their short film and documentary work–mostly because it’s rare to see eight women filmmakers together in one room at all. But that’s exactly what we saw Saturday evening at the reception for the 18th annual Through Women’s Eyes Film Festival, highlighting women … MORE>>
Tomorrow is April Fools’ Day. I’m sure social media will be a minefield of shenanigans. There are some do’s and don’ts to follow. Do: Make your prank harmless. Don’t: Trust anyone. Good luck. MORE>>