TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Helene’s rough sea and wind conditions have rocked marine life, leaving some manatees stranded.
Biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are responding to reports of stranded manatees across the state’s coastlines.
“Manatees stranded by storms may need immediate medical attention from wildlife experts,” the agency said in a social media post on Sept. 30. “While our top priority has been to help residents and visitors of Florida recover from the impacts of Helene, we are also working swiftly to rehabilitate and conserve these gentle giants.”
FWC officials are also working with Save the Manatee Club (SMC) and the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership to monitor impacts of wildlife following Helene.
While manatees are native to Florida and well-adjusted to its extreme weather, tropical storms and hurricanes put the manatees at risk, according to SMC.
"Storm surges can cause manatees to go far inland to areas they would not normally inhabit, where they can become trapped when the water recedes," said Patrick Rose, aquatic biologist and executive director of Save the Manatee Club. "Even in areas that are typical manatee habitat, such as Tampa Bay, Crystal River, and the Big Bend and Panhandle regions, waters that recede to irregularly low levels can also leave manatees stranded."
How to help
If you find a stranded, injured or dead manatee, officials urge you to not handle it by yourself.
Residents can call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 for Fish and Wildlife officials or biologists to assist with helping the animal.
If you come across other species of injured wildfire, you can also file a report online or contact your closest FWC-licensed wildlife rehabilitation center.
