Nature

A loggerhead turtle is rehabbing at Zoo Miami's new Sea Turtle Hospital. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent the turtle to the zoo after a shark bit off most of her left fin.

Seagrasses have been found growing recently in small areas of the Indian River Lagoon along Florida’s east coast where chronic pollution has wiped out much of it, officials said on a Wednesday conference call.

State and federal wildlife officials are working together to address the unusual die-off of manatees. Already this year more than 440 have died. That's high, but not as bad as in 2021.

Many of the rescued manatees have gone to SeaWorld in Orlando. SeaWorld’s Christopher Dold says when the expansion is complete the facility will be the largest in the nation for critical manatees.

Florida lawmakers included $27 million for manatees in the state budget this session. Advocates say the funding is historic but not enough to solve the long-term problems that have led to an unprecedented die-off.

Feeding lettuce to manatees might be necessary again next winter because of the dwindling amount of seagrass in the lagoon.

The reef is in 'urgent need' of better management to keep the fish as sustainable levels, according to researchers from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The annual report card from the Marine Resources Council, an advocacy group, is based on data collected by the water management districts in 2020, the most recent available. The report card shows that while water quality is improving, widespread seagrass losses are ongoing.

Yellowstone became the first national park in the U.S. on March 1, 1872, and it helped usher in the broader national park movement. The park stretches into Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

Environmental writer Oliver Milman says habitat loss, pesticides and climate change are killing off insects worldwide, which, in turn, threatens humans. His new book is The Insect Crisis.