Bear Warriors United, a nonprofit group, is holding a fundraising event for their two lawsuits protecting Florida bears and Manatees on March 21 at The Roof Top at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs.
Photo Courtesy of Bear Warriors United
In less than three months, approximately 170 manatees have died in Florida, with over 30 of the deaths attributed to extreme cold stress during the winter. It isn’t unusual to see death tolls spike in the late winter months; however, these numbers are nearly triple the typical mortalities seen in the past five years.
According to Karina Shadix, executive director of Bear Warriors United, malnutrition may be a crucial factor in the recent death increase – a consequence of irresponsible waste management by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The nonprofit group has been in a legal battle with FDEP since 2022 over Florida’s alleged failure to enforce clean water regulations, leading to a massive seagrass die-off and ultimately the death of over 1,200 manatees.
“The manatees that survived starvation are now chronically malnourished for the rest of their life,” Shadix said. “Cold stress can take them out quicker when they are this malnourished.”
In 2025, Federal Judge Carlos Mendoza ruled in favor of Bear Warriors United, finding that FDEP’s wastewater regulations violated the Endangered Species Act. The court also ordered injunctive relief – the group requested a series of court-ordered actions, including stronger pollution controls, seagrass restoration, and the development of a habitat conservation plan to prevent future manatee starvation, according to Shadix.
FDEP appealed the ruling to an Atlanta-based appellate court, stating in a brief that Bear Warriors United did not have legal standing to pursue the case. The department’s attorney argued that the speculative chain of causation far exceeds that of other Endangered Species Act cases where the plaintiffs won.
Now, Bear Warriors United is preparing for the Atlanta trial on April 21, 2026, and they are asking the public to help support them. “The next few months are crunch time. This is when the majority of the work gets done,” Said Shadix.
Shadix believes the outcome of this trial will be a “landmark decision” that is pivotal for the future of Florida’s natural environment. While most ESA cases target Federal Agencies, this one targets a state agency’s environmental permitting system, potentially setting a precedent for instances to come. “If we survive the appeal, it will be a tool to rein in overdevelopment, to stop sewage pollution, and clean up not only the Indian River Lagoon, but all of our waters in Florida,” she explained.
Two deceased Florida manatees are transported in a trailer by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation personnel during the manatee mortality event, where hundreds of manatees died between 2020 and 2022 after widespread seagrass loss left the animals without their primary food source.
Photo Courtesy of Bear Warriors United
Shadix insists this might be the only chance to achieve justice for the lost manatee lives. With the recent proposal to narrow the scope of the Endangered Species Act by the Trump administration – especially the debated definition of “harm” and whether that should include a species’ habitat – the lawsuit loses its entire basis for justification. However, if upheld on appeal, Shadix believes “it can be used in the future for other lawsuits.”
On March 21, the Responsible Growth Management Coalition, Sierra Club Calusa Group, and Bear Warriors United invite supporters to join their fundraising event: Brews for Bears and Manatees at The Roof Top at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs (27333 Old 41). The event will fund costs for the upcoming manatee lawsuit in Atlanta and a separate lawsuit filed by Bear Warriors United against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
According to Shadix, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation personnel transported deceased manatees from the Indian River Lagoon to the Brevard County Landfill to be necropsied next to the dumpster where they were discarded.
Photo Courtesy of Bear Warriors United
“This hearing in Atlanta is monumental, and we want to fill the room with manatee and clean water advocates,” Shadix said. She said community support, whether through attending events, spreading awareness, or contributing to legal efforts, will play an important role as the case moves forward. She also mentioned opportunities for students to complete service learning hours or internships with the Bear Warriors United team.
To learn more about Bear Warriors United, visit https://bearwarriorsunited.com/.