THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES HAVE BEEN CHARRED IN COLLIER COUNTY.

OUR EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS MAKING THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR DANGEROUS WILDFIRES.

PROVIDING A PATH FOR KIDS IN NEED.

THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY ONE ORGANIZATION TO HELP ELEVATE THE COLLIER TEEN HOMELESSNESS ISSUE.

AND GET READY TO SPRING FORWARD.

THE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED FOR ANY POTENTIAL LOSS OF SLEEP.

HELLO, I AM JENNIFER CRAWFORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

FIREFIGHTERS IN COLLIER COUNTY MAKING PROGRESS TO CONTAIN A LARGE WILDFIRE.

JUST SOUTH OF 75 ABOUT 25 MILES EAST OF NAPLES.

THE FIRE HAS BURNED MORE THAN 35,000 ACRES.

AT LEAST 60% OF THE BLAZE HAS BEEN CONTAINED.

THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, BUT OUR EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS CREATING THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR EVEN A TINY SPARK TO DEVELOP INTO A DANGEROUS WILDFIRE.

WITH MORE, WE ARE JOINED BY WGCUS SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLES.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE IN SUCH AN EXTREME DROUGHT AT THIS POINT?

>> IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, BASICALLY THIS PICKAXE SHUT OFF.

AND OF COURSE, DROUGHT HAS NO, IT'S A IT'S A UNIQUE WEATHER PHENOMENON AND THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE A TRIGGER THAT SAYS, HEY, YOU'RE STARTING A DROUGHT LIKE A HURRICANE OR OR FLOOD.

THERE'S AN EVENT THAT OCCURS.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE 2 THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMING.

DROUGHT JUST SNEAKS IN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS.

IT GOT DRIER AND DRIER INTO LAST SUMMER.

AND THEN A HEAT DOME SLID OVER SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, WHICH FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS IS WHEN WE SET ALL SORTS OF NEW HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS THROUGHOUT THE REGION FROM GORDA, FORT MYERS AND SOUTH.

COMBINE THAT WITH AN ANEMIC RAINY SEASON LAST YEAR.

AGAIN, A FOOT BELOW NORMAL.

AND IN FORT MYERS ALONE, A DEFICIT.

WE HAVEN'T COME BACK FROM.

AND NOW HERE WE ARE WITH PARCHED SOIL, 7, 8 INCHES OF THE TOP.

SO ALL THE WAY DOWN DOESN'T HAVE ANY MOISTURE IN IT.

IT'S ALMOST DESERT LIKE CONDITIONS, ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE GRAPHS THAT THAT THEY WOULD RELY ON LIKE TO KEEP DROUGHT INDEX.

>> HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE THREAT FOR WILDFIRES?

>> IT BASICALLY MAKES THE WOODS A TINDERBOX.

YOU CAN SIMPLY PULL IN THE HIGH GRASS WITH YOUR CAR AND MAYBE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER STILL THERE OR IT'S JUST HOT.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY LIGHT THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON FIRE AND LEAVE AND NOT EVEN REALIZE YOU'VE DONE THAT.

CERTAINLY CIGARETTE BUTTS ARE NOT TO BE THROWN OUT THE WINDOW ANY TIME, BUT ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT CAN SET OFF A BLAZE OF ANY SIZE IF IT'S SOMETHING LIKE ALONG ALONG THE FORCE ROADWAY.

>> AND THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT FIRE THAT HAS BEEN BURNING IN COLLIER COUNTY AND ITS AT LEAST 35,000 ACRES.

IT THEY'RE WORKING ON CONTAINING IT.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THIS PARTICULAR FIRE?

>> THE BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THAT FIRE AND IS BEEN THE SMOKE FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE SMOKE WAS BLOWING OVER INTERSTATE 75 OR ALLIGATOR ALLEY.

AT THAT POINT, IT WAS CLOSE SEVERAL TIMES BY THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL BECAUSE YOU JUST COULDN'T SEE THERE WAS EVEN A FORECAST OF SOMETHING VERY RARE, WHICH IS CALLED A SUPER FOG AND IT'S BASICALLY A WHITE OUT WITHOUT THE SNOW.

IT'S ASH INSTEAD OF SNOW, VERY UNIQUE MITTERRAND.

COOL CONDITIONS HAVE TO COME TOGETHER FOR THAT.

BUT THAT WILL PUT VISIBILITY TO MAYBE 10 FEET AND FROM YOUR CAR.

SO OBVIOUSLY THE AUTHORITIES HAD TO SHUT THE HIGHWAY DOWN.

THEN STATE ROAD.

29, WHICH RUNS DOWN THE WEST SIDE OF THE FIRE HAS ALSO BEEN CLOSED AND OPEN AND CLOSED.

SO THIS FIRE STUBBORN AND THEY HAVEN'T THEY WILL GET A HANDLE ON IT.

DESPITE CREWS COMING IN FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY SPENDING OVER 3 MILLION DOLLARS FIGHTING ITS TO THIS POINT.

WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE TO FIGHT FIRES?

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS 3.5 MILLION SO FAR FOR THAT PARTICULAR FIRE.

>> ITS AN EXPENSIVE OPERATION.

>> YOU HAVE TO THINK OF ALL THE MANPOWER WHEN WHEN THESE PEOPLE COME IN FROM OTHER STATES WITH ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT AND THE ALL THEIR OVERTIME, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE COMING IN.

THEY STILL NEED TO GET PAID.

THEY STILL NEED TO GET FED.

THEIR EQUIPMENT IS STILL BEING USED.

THE GUESTS AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT THE WILL BE PART OF WHAT THEY DO THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLES.

ALL OF THAT STUFF IS BUILD AND HIS PAIN THAT AND THEN YOU HAVE DROPS OF A HELICOPTER DROPS OF WATER AND SOME STUFF TO DO BACKFIRES TO KEEP THE FIRE TO BURN OUT AHEAD OF THE FIRE.

SOME OF THOSE ARE A LITTLE PING-PONG BALL, THINGS THAT LATE ON FIRE WHEN WHEN THEY ARE DROPPED OUT OF THE HELICOPTER TO CREATE A FIRE LINE AND AND BEHIND THE FIRE AND KEEP IT FROM ADVANCING ALL OF THAT STUFF.

CROSS MONEY.

EVERY HELICOPTER TRIP COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

IT'S BEEN GOING FOR WEEK 2 WEEKS NOW OVER 2 WEEKS.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH IT'S BUILDING UP EVERY DAY.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS WILDFIRE SEASON?

>> WELL, THE >> A DROUGHT HAS TENTACLES THAT RUN OUT INTO THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY ITSELF.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL IN TERMS OF WEATHER PHENOMENA AND OUR REGION.

IF WE HAVE WILDFIRES AND WE HAVE MAJOR ARTERIES SHUTDOWN LIKE INTERSTATE 75 AND IT MAKES NATIONAL NEWS.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER REASON FOR PEOPLE TO DECIDE TO VACATION SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IT'S ANOTHER REASON FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE DECIDE TO STAY HOME SO IT CAN AFFECT THE ECONOMY IN THAT WAY.

IT IS ALSO A LOSS OF QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU CAN'T GO TO THE BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE CERTAIN AREAS.

NOW THEY'RE STARTING TO REOPEN.

BUT WHILE THE WILDFIRE WAS DOING ITS THING, THE MORE ACTIVELY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

THE WHOLE AREA WAS SHUT DOWN.

THE DROUGHT IS A INSIDIOUS SEEING AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE COMING.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP US A TRACKING ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.

SO WE WILL CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES.

>> THE COMING DAYS OF REPORTS ON WGCU FM AS WELL AS WRITTEN ONLINE AT WGCU DOT ORG AND ALSO HERE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, TOM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COVERING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY TO WELCOME.

>> AND AGAIN, FOR MORE ON OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES, INCLUDING OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF LOCAL WILDFIRES.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, DOZENS OF MANATEES ARE DEAD AFTER A SURGE OF COLD WEATHER.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE ROLE.

SEA COWS PLAY IN THE FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM.

COLLIER COUNTY IS THE HIGHEST COLLIER COUNTY IS THE HIGHEST INCOME COUNTY IN ALL OF FLORIDA.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO TAX WATCH.

AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 1200 HOMELESS KIDS IN THE SAME COUNTY.

SO HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE?

WELL, THAT'S WHAT OUR WGCUS KATE CRONIN SET OUT TO FIND OUT.

ONE SHELTER.

HUNDREDS OF KIDS.

ONE GOAL TAKE CARE OF AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE.

>> YOUTH HAVEN IS THE ONLY EMERGENCY AND RESIDENTIAL SHELTER FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS IN COLLIER COUNTY.

>> NOW IT IS IN THE MIDST OF A BIG UPGRADE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

THE SHELTER IS LIMITED TO CARING FOR ABOUT 70 KITS, A NEW THERAPEUTIC ENRICHMENT CENTER TO EXPAND THOSE CAPABILITIES.

>> WE'RE NOW IN A POSITION OF THIS BUILDING TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES FROM A MEDITATION YOGA STUDIO, A MUSIC STUDIO, A STEM LAB, A FAMILY REUNIFICATION ROOM FOR PARENTS TO MEET WITH THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY'RE WORKING TO REUNIFY WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS OFTENTIMES HAVE THERAPEUTIC COMPONENTS AND CHILDREN THINK THAT THEIR FUN, BUT THEY REALLY HELP THEM HEAL FROM THE TRAUMA.

THE BUILDING IS MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY OLD.

>> WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WITH THE NEW EXPANSION?

THE PLAN IS A 22,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE TELFORD BUILDING WHICH SITS AT THE HEART OF YOUTH HAVENS GROUNDS.

CEO LINDA GOLDFIELD BROKE GROUND ALONGSIDE AN HK ARCHITECTURE FOUNDER MATTHEW CROWN AND CONTRACTOR CHRIS CURRENT FROM CARIBBEAN CONSTRUCTION.

>> THE FIRST TOUR I TOOK OF THE CAMPUS WITH LINDA AND SHE TOLD ME AROUND SHE SHOULD BE ABOUT THE HARDSHIPS THAT THESE KIDS HAVE HAD OVER THE YEARS BEING AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES BEING IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT HOW I RAISE MY CHILDREN AND MY OWN CHILDHOOD AND JUST THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHAT THESE KIDS HAVE GONE THROUGH AND THE HARDSHIPS THAT THEY FACE.

AND IT'S SO FANTASTIC THAT THERE'S A AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS IN COLLIER COUNTY THAT HELPS THESE KIDS.

BUT WE ALL HAVE TO PITCH IN.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY WE'RE HERE.

>> SO HOW DID THIS COME TO FRUITION?

IT'S A 20 MILLION DOLLAR UNDERTAKING MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS DONORS.

HK ARCHITECTURE SIGNED ONTO THE PROJECT, PRO BONO INCURRING ON CONSTRUCTION PRESENTED A CHECK FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE PROFITS AT THE CEREMONY.

>> WE DID THIS JOB.

WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY INTEND TO DO THAT.

BUT AS WE GOT TO KNOW, THE TEAM AND THE FOLKS IT YOU SAVE IN EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO FOR THESE KIDS.

JUST IT TUGS AT MY HEART, MY PARTNER'S HEART.

AND IT HITS HOME FOR ME A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, GROWING UP.

I DIDN'T HAVE IT AS BAD AS THESE KIDS, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

AND, YOU KNOW, HOW COULD YOU NOT WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT?

AND SO THE DONATION $100,000 DONATION WAS REALLY A SIMPLE, SIMPLE DECISION.

YOUTH HAVEN SAYS IT HAS A 90% SUCCESS RATE, ENSURING THAT HOMELESS TEENS DO NOT BECOME HOMELESS ADULTS.

>> GOLD FIELDS SAYS MANY CHILDREN WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO NEGLECT, ABUSE OR HOMELESSNESS.

THE SHELTER IS INTENDED TO BE A TEMPORARY HOUSING SITUATION, BUT SOME STAY FOR UP TO 4 YEARS WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

>> PRIOR TO CHILDREN AGAIN, OFTENTIMES ADULTS HAVE DISAPPOINTED THEM AND FOR THEM TO SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THEM AND HE'S HERE TO UPLIFT THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE BRIGHTER FUTURES AND BETTER OUTCOMES IS REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> THE BUILDING IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY NEXT MAY WALKING THROUGH THE GROUNDS HANDPRINTS OF CURRENT AND FORMER RESIDENTS COVER THE COTTAGES LEAVING THEIR MARK ON.

YOU PAY THEM.

THIS LOAN SHELTER GIVES HOMELESS TEENS KIDS IN FOSTER CARE AND ANYONE IN BETWEEN A TRUE SAFE HAVEN FOR NEWS WITH AMANDA OR I'M KATE KRONON.

>> IN TWENTY-TWENTY 6, NEARLY 60 MANATEES HAVE DIED IN LEE COUNTY DUE TO COLD STRESS CAUSED BY THE WINTER WATER.

TEMPERATURES.

THIS INCLUDES THE DEATHS OF OVER 30 SEA COWS AT MANATEE PARK OFF STATE ROAD 80, WHICH BECOMES A SEASONAL SHELTER FOR MANATEES WHO USED THE WARM ONE OFF FROM AN FPNL PLANT TO SURVIVE.

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP THESE STAPLES OF THE FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM TO LEARN MORE?

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY PATRICK ROSE.

HE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SAVE THE MANATEES CLUB, MR.

ROSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WHAT WAS THE REACTION AFTER YOU HEARD THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AT MANATEE PARK LAST MONTH?

>> WELL, IT VERY, VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE TRY TO PLAN FOR TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING.

THERE WAS AN EVENT OVER 40 YEARS AGO THAT SORT OF SET THE STAGE THAT.

POWER PLANTS CURRENT WERE NOT NECESSARILY COMMUNICATING WITH THE PROPER AUTHORITIES, BUT RIGHT AFTER BEEN ACTUALLY ON THE DAY, THE SPACE SHUTTLE BLEW UP.

I WAS AT THAT FORT MYERS POWER PLANT AND WE WERE THERE TO CAPTURE AND FIT MANATEES WITH SATELLITE TRANSMITTERS.

SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, THOUGH, EACH OF THE POWER COMPANIES WERE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT MANATEE PROTECTION PLANS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE SITUATION THAT WE FOUND THAT DAY WHEN THERE WASN'T ANY WARM WATER ON THAT VERY, VERY COLD JANUARY DAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, WHILE BACKUPS WERE IN PLACE, THEY REALLY WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO THE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THOSE BACKUP PLANS WERE INSUFFICIENT.

AND SO WE HAD I THINK ADDITIONAL MORTALITY THAT WE HOPE WE CAN IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS TO AND NEVER SEE AN EVENT LIKE THIS AGAIN.

>> FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT OTHER STEPS COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN?

>> WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE TAKEN AS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING LOOKED AT AND CONSIDERED.

I BELIEVE FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT DID MEET THERE.

PLANS ARE THE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE PLAN.

BUT CLEARLY THEY WEREN'T SUFFICIENT FOR SUCH A COLD DURATION.

AND I THINK THAT THE AIR TEMPERATURES IN ADDITION TO THE WATER, TEMPERATURES WERE QUITE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN COORDINATION WITH FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT WITH THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION AND REALLY LOOK AT EVERY ASPECT OF THIS.

THE GOOD PART OF IT WAS IS THAT THEY DID REACH OUT WHEN THEY WERE HAVEN'T.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE POWER PLANT IN AN EMERGENCY IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE FACILITY.

LITERALLY.

AND THEN THEY HAD IN PLACE BACK UP BOILERS THAT SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED HEAT FOR THE MANATEES AND EVEN THOUGH THEY HADN'T YET MET THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE THRESHOLDS.

I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME ISSUE IN GETTING THOSE STARTED AS SOON AS THEY COULD.

BUT THEY WERE AGAIN, WE'RE WITHIN THE REQUIREMENTS AND ONCE THEY CAME ONLINE, IT WAS A LITTLE LONGER THAN ANYONE HAD HOPED THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

BUT THEY HAVE BEEN COORDINATED WITH.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE THERE AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST ARE GOING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE TO HELP PREVENT THIS TYPE OF AN INCIDENT IN THE FUTURE.

>> THAT WE HAVE ALSO REPORTED.

>> NEWS OF A RECENT BLUE GREEN ALGAE BLOOM IN THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

>> WHAT SORT OF THREAT DOES THAT POSE FOR MANATEES?

>> IF THEY'RE SMALLER BLOOMS, IT'S NOT A REALLY BIG DEAL THAT I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TERRIBLE IT CAN GET.

IT'S ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA WITH THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

SO JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, WE SUFFERED OVER 1100 MANATEES STARVING TO DEATH AS A RESULT OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS THAT WERE SO GREAT UNCOVERED SO MUCH OF THE HABITAT THAT WE LOST THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF SEAGRASS AND MANATEES ARE LITERALLY STARVING TO DEATH.

SO ON THE WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE'S A LOT OF POLLUTANTS THAT BOTH COME FROM THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE THAT MAKE THEIR WAY EAST THROUGH THE PORT ST.

LUCIE CANAL AND WEST TO THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

SO EVEN HOW MUCH POLLUTION IS COMING FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT TOGETHER WITH ALL THE LOCALIZED POLLUTION AND RUNOFF THAT COMES FROM FAILED SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND PROPERLY TREATED WASTE WATER.

AND THEN THAT CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE WATER ALREADY BEING MORE POLLUTED.

THAT'S COMING LITERALLY FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE OUT THROUGH THE CLOTHES HATCHING OUT TO THE COUGH.

THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT CAN EXACERBATE THE RED TIDE PROBLEMS BECAUSE ALTHOUGH RED TIDE HAS NOT STARTED BY OUR LOCAL POLLUTION, IT CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORSE AND PERSIST LONGER.

>> HOW IMPORTANT WHAT ROLE DO MANATEES PLAY IN THE FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM?

>> I LIKE EQUATE.

>> MANATEES LIKE TO THE GARDENERS OF THE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.

>> THEY THEY FORAGE ON SEA GRASSES AND THEY NORMALLY WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE TOPS OF THE PLANTS AND SO FORTH.

OCCASIONALLY THEY'LL GO IN AND TAKE A RISE.

I'M SURE SOME OF THE ROUTES, BUT ACTUALLY THAT INCREASES THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE SEAGRASS ECOSYSTEMS AND THEN FRESH WATER SYSTEMS.

AGAIN, THEY'RE PRIMARILY OR GRAZERS AND THEY MOVE AROUND.

SO THEY ACTUALLY MAKE THOSE HABITATS MORE PRODUCTIVE IN THE LONG RUN.

AND SO THERE THEY LITERALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT MANATEES, THEN WE HAVE TO PROTECT THOSE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM.

SO THERE THEY'RE THE REAL AMBASSADOR FOR WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO PROTECT THESE GENTLE, YOU KNOW, MARINE MAMMALS AND ALLOW THEM TO FREE RANGE ACROSS THEIR HABITATS FROM FRESH WATER TO EXTREME SYSTEMS TO NEAR SHORE, MARINE SYSTEMS.

WE'RE GOING TO BETTER PROTECT THOSE FOR EVERY OTHER REASON.

HUMANS THINK THEY'RE IMPORTANT.

ANOTHER SPECIES LIKE COFFINS AND SEA TURTLES AND THE FISHES AND SO FORTH.

SO THEY'RE REALLY AN INDICATOR HOW HEALTHY AN ECOSYSTEM IS.

AND IF WE PROTECT THEM, WE PROTECT THAT ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.

>> IF WE SEE A MANATEE IN DISTRESS, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO YOU CALL THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION'S HOTLINE AT 8, 8, 8, 404-3922, THEY WILL ARRANGE.

BIOLOGISTS TO COME OUT AND ASSESS THE MANATEE AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE RESCUED, IF IT'S INJURED, SICKER, OTHERWISE, THEN THE MAN TO RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PARTNERSHIP, WHICH WERE ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THAT ORGANIZATION ALONG WITH THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION AND THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

WELL, RESCUE THAT MANATEE AND BRING IT INTO ONE OF THE PARTNER FACILITIES JUST RECENTLY, THERE'VE BEEN SEVERAL MANATEES RESCUED IN LEE COUNTY AREA ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER PLANT ISSUES HAVE GONE TO SEA WORLD AND TO TAMPA, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE BOTH PARTNERS AND THE MAN TO RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PARTNERSHIP.

>> THEY ARE VERY SPECIAL AND BEAUTIFUL.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR INFORMATION STAY.

MISTER ROSE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE IS ABOUT TO SPRING AHEAD.

HOW YOU CAN PREPARE YOURSELF FOR WAKING UP AN HOUR EARLY COME MONDAY MORNING.

GET YOUR ALARM CLOCKS READY.

WE SPRING FORWARD WITH DAYLIGHT SAVINGS OF THIS SUNDAY MARCH 8TH.

IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT LAST HOUR OF SLEEP, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY DR JOSE COLON, SLEEP MEDICINE PHYSICIAN WITH LEE HEALTH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

DOCTOR.

>> I THANK YOU FOR HAVING ITS PLEASURE.

>> THIS IS THE TIME TO REMIND EVERYONE TO TURN THEIR CLOCKS FORWARD ON SUNDAY.

MEANING WE LOSE A PRECIOUS HOUR OF SLEEP.

DOCTOR, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW IMPACTFUL IS THIS WHEN WE ACTUALLY MISS AN HOUR OF SLEEP?

>> YOU KNOW, SO SLEEP IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S VITAL TO TO OUR OUR BODY, TO OUR BRAIN, TO ARE LEARNING.

AND WHEN TIME IS BEING CHANGED, IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME TO ADJUST.

AND TYPICALLY WHEN.

SO ONE GOES TO A DIFFERENT TIME ZONE.

IT TAKES ABOUT A DAY TO ADJUST.

AND INTERESTINGLY WITH WITH DAYLIGHT SAVINGS, IT MAY TAKE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE DAYS TO ADJUST.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THAT I TRY TO EMPHASIZE IS TO THIS A TRY TO NOT LOSE THAT HOUR OF SLEEP.

YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO TO, TO GET TO BED AT A MORE DECENT TIME AS WELL AS WAKE UP AT A REGULAR TIME AND MAYBE SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, LOSE A HALF HOUR OF SLEEP AND A HALF HOUR OF OF WAKEFULNESS IN THE IN THE DAY.

>> I'M CURIOUS IF YOU SEE AN UPTICK IN PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR SLEEP HABITS WHEN WE GET TO THIS DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.

>> WHEN IT'S LIGHTER OUTSIDE LATER, IT DOES TAKE SOME PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO TO GET TO SLEEP.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S COMPLAINTS WHEN WHEN IT'S DARK EARLY.

HOWEVER, THAT THE DARKNESS IS WHAT ALLOWS OUR BODIES NATURAL MELATONIN TO COME OUT.

>> NOW I HEAR.

>> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES AND THEY NEVER GET ENOUGH QUALITY SLEEP.

THEY GO ON 5 OR 6 OR 7 HOURS.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DO GET THE REST THAT WE NEED EACH NIGHT?

>> SO OUR BRAIN GOES THROUGH DIFFERENT CYCLES THAT WE NEED BOTH FOR LEARNING AS WELL AS OUR HEART AND FOR REPAIR AND AND THE THE QUALITY OF THE SLEEP IS ACTUALLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE QUANTITY NUMBER OF OF THE SLEEP.

A VERY INTERESTING FACT IS IF YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHORT SLEEP TIME OF CHRONICALLY GETTING 5 HOURS OR LESS.

AND AND YOU COMPARE THEM WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE LONG SLEEP TIME OF 12 HOURS OR MORE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE LONG SLEEVE TIME ACTUALLY HAS A HIGHER MORTALITY.

THEY'RE DYING MORNING TWICE AS AS MUCH YOU KNOW.

SO THE QUALITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ACTUAL QUANTITY NUMBER.

NOW, WHEN WE DO CHRONICALLY GET 5 HOURS OR LESS SLEEP, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE SOME SOME, YOU KNOW, THOSE VARIOUS EFFECTS AND CAN AFFECT MEMORY IN AND COGNITION.

BUT MORE IMPORTANT AGAIN IS THE QUALITY AND ALSO.

HAVING AN ESTABLISHED WAKE TIME.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TOO MUCH SLEEP, 12 HOURS THERE, CHRONICALLY ACTUALLY GETTING A LOT OF DAYTIME SLEEP IN THEIR SLEEP WAKE CYCLE IS IS A REGULAR.

>> NOW I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I SAW THESE NUMBERS.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL REPORTED THAT ALMOST 40% OF ADULTS IN FLORIDA DON'T GET ENOUGH SLEEP.

NOW, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR IMPROVING SLEEP HABITS?

THE SLEEP ENVIRONMENT.

>> SO WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING BOTH SLEEP HABITS AND SLEEP ENVIRONMENTS, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO EMPHASIZE TO TO DO THINGS THAT THAT RELAX.

YOU I DON'T LIKE INSTRUCTIONS SUCH AS DO SOMETHING BORING.

NOBODY WANTS TO DO ANYTHING FOR, YOU KNOW THAT JUST THE THOUGHT OF THAT.

YOU DO NOT SEE ITS PEOPLE, BUT BUT DO THINGS THAT THAT ARE RELAXING.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND HOW A POINT TO TO WHAT I'M GETTING AT.

DO YOU DRIVE?

>> YES, OF COURSE.

>> WHEN WHEN YOU DRIVE, ARE YOU TRYING TO STAY AWAKE ALERT AND LOOK AT THE ROAD.

ARE YOU TRYING TO FALL ASLEEP >> I'M TRYING TO STAY AWAKE AND ALERT.

OF COURSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHEN YOU DRIVE, YOU SOMETIMES LISTEN TO THE RADIO OR SPOTIFY.

>> 100%.

I'M ALWAYS WAITING TO SOMETHING.

>> CAN YOU SEE HOW YOU'RE LEARNING TO ASSOCIATE THAT RADIO WITH BEING ALERT SOME PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE DRIVING AND THEY'RE TIRED.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

THEY TURN UP THE RADIO.

LET'S JUST SAY THAT YEAR AWAKE AND YOU'RE IN BED AND YOU'RE NOT ASLEEP.

WHEN YOU SEE HOW WOULD BE A BAD IDEA TO LISTEN TO THE SAME RADIO STATION.

>> THAT KEEPS YOU ALERT WAS THE ONLY 100% OPEN.

>> SO NOW DO PEOPLE GET ON ON CELL PHONES AND SNAPCHAT ON FACEBOOK OR GROUP TAX TIKTOK BECAUSE IT IS A BORING THING TO DO OR BECAUSE IT IS MENTALLY STIMULATING.

>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE TEND TO THINK SCROLLING IS KIND OF BORING, BUT IT'S ALSO MENTALLY STIMULATING.

I MEAN, YES, IT'S PASSIVE, BUT IT'S MENTALLY STIMULATING, WHICH IS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT BEFORE BED.

>> SO I I LIKE TO YOU KNOW, I SEE EXPLANATIONS ARE MORE IMPORTANT.

THEN INSTRUCTIONS AND WHAT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO IS TO, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENT AND HAVE IT SAYS TO TRY TO FIND THINGS THAT THAT COM U.S.

SUE THE U.S.

AND AVOID THINGS THAT ARE STIMULATING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR.

ALL GREAT.

THEY THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS MAKING SURE THE GAME NEVER SLOWS DOWN.

A LOCAL COMPANY IS GIVING BATTERED PICKLE A NEW LEASE ON LIFE THROUGH AN INGENIOUS RECYCLING EFFORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS THE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN FOR THE NEXT EPISODE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.