There’s a handy app that Broward County is promoting to report manatee sightings and gather info on boating safety zones meant to protect the iconic mammal. It’s timely as manatee season begins Nov. 15 and runs through March 31. Last year was especially detrimental to manatees as a lack of healthy seagrass to eat left them starving and dying off in record numbers.

According to state statistics, 1,101 manatees in 2021 died in Florida. Conservationists warn against feeding the seacows, which is illegal in Florida.

For more information or to download the app for both Apple and Android, visit them online at www.broward.org/Manatees/Pages/Default.aspx.