CCSO and FWC assembling team to rescue large injured manatee in Homosassa River, Aug. 26
CCSO photo.
Citrus County, Florida - On Saturday, August 26, 2023, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) received reports of a large injured manatee within the Homosassa River.
Deputies with the CCSO Marine Unit responded to the area where the injured manatee had been seen and located it. Deputies spoke with a biologist in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC's) Wildlife Research Department to determine the best course of action. The biologist said, that due to the size of the manatee, a large crew of highly trained personnel would need to be assembled to rescue it. Meanwhile, no one should disturb, attempt to corral, or rescue the injured manatee. As of 3:54 pm, the manatee had made itself comfortable in a cove. If anyone should see the injured manatee traveling in open waters, please call FWC Dispatch at (904) 359-6584 to report its direction of travel.
"It is very important for everyone's safety that we listen to the biologist's instructions and await the trained crew's arrival," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Although we don't know exactly where in our waterways this manatee was injured, I want to remind all boaters to observe all posted signs: No Wake Zones, Speed Limits, and Idle Speeds."
Manatees are a federally protected species. Only trained, experienced, and federally permitted specialists and organizations are authorized to capture, handle or transport them. A manatee rescue can be very dangerous, posing a safety risk to both the rescuers and the manatee.
When the team has been assembled, the injured manatee will be rescued, and then transported in a specialized box truck to Zoo Tampa for treatment.
"We will provide an update once we have rescued the manatee," said Madeline Scarborough, a Community Relations Specialist with the CCSO.