Florida manatees rescued after being stranded on land by Hurricane Helene
Manatees are native to Florida, usually growing around 9-10 feet long and weighing about 1,000 pounds.
FILE: Storm surge closes in on elevated camera in Cedar Key, Florida
Hurricane Helene brought several feet of storm surge to Florida, including to this neighborhood in Cedar Key.
Biologists, along with partners and the public, have been responding to reports of stranded manatees in Florida after Hurricane Helene struck Florida.
The Category 4 hurricane brought record storm surge and flooded many lakes and rivers, where manatees live. The high water levels allowed the manatees to move beyond their usual range, but some became stranded on land once the waters receded.
"While our top priority has been helping Florida residents & visitors recover from Helene's impacts, we are also working swiftly to rehabilitate & conserve these gentle giants," the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Manatee being rescued. (@MyFWC / X / FOX Weather)
The FWC shared photos this week of teams relocating a manatee from a large puddle on the side of a road.
FWC's Lead Manatee Rescue Coordinator Andy Garrett said that they responded to calls about 4 stranded manatees by Wednesday afternoon with 6 or 7 more manatees to tend to.
"All these guys, these manatees, they're still in really good health," Garrett said. "So, it's mostly just getting them out of that traffic situation, getting back to a place where they can go back in the water."
He noted that so far, all the manatees they have responded to have been alive.
Manatee stranded in the grass. (@MyFWC / X / FOX Weather)
Should the public encounter a stranded manatee, the FWC advised contacting wildlife experts through their Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
Manatees are native to Florida, usually growing around 9-10 feet long and weighing about 1,000 pounds, according to the FWC.