The latest counts from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, show background to moderate levels along the Lee and Collier coastlines.

While red tide counts reportedly fell in parts of Florida's Gulf coast, the toxic algae is suspected in the recent deaths of a manatee and a dolphin.

It is not a bad start to the Red Tide season across western Florida, especially since no microorganisms have been detected in the southwest, where toxic algae blooms often occur during early fall. But ...