Outdoors news and notes

Making news

Manatee DeathS down; crafts still big threat

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute released its preliminary manatee mortality data for 2008, and it documented 337 manatee deaths in 2008, 20 fewer than the five-year average. The low number of Red Tide-related deaths is likely to have kept the number down. However, watercraft strikes and perinatal (newborn) deaths were both above the five-year average. There were 90 watercraft-related deaths and a record 101 newborn deaths. The factors contributing to the newborn deaths include the possibility that there were more births overall or that biologists recovered a higher proportion of calf carcasses. To report an injured or killed manatee, call 1-888-404-3922.

Check it out

Smarten up before you go fishing

Fishing guide Dave Zalewski will offer an eight-week fishing class starting Wednesday at Betts Fishing Center in Largo. The course will focus on flats fishing, bottom fishing, trolling, electronics and tackle. Cost is $50. For information, call (727) 397-8815.

Dolphin-speak

Boyd Hill Nature Park in St. Petersburg will hold a Natural History Speaker Series with Dr. Randall S. White on Tuesday to discuss Florida's bottlenose dolphins. The free lecture will focus on the dolphins in Sarasota Bay, especially their social structure and behavior. Call (727) 893-7326 for information.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer