Seagrass resurgence offers ray of hope for Florida’s hard-hit manatees

A remarkable turnaround in sea cows' favorite food at Mosquito Lagoon means emergency feeding program can end

A picturesque expanse of water along Florida's space coast is offering a modicum of hope for the state's embattled manatees as wildlife officials review whether to restore the beloved sea cows to the endangered species list.

The recovery of seagrass, the manatees' favorite food, in Mosquito Lagoon means that an emergency hand-feeding program that has kept many of the starving aquatic animals alive over the last two winters can be discontinued, at least temporarily.