Two manatees rescued from Crystal River golf course
Still from the rescue video posted on Instagram by the FWRI.
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)
Research division of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
August 20, 2024
Research division of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
August 20, 2024
After extreme high tide events, like we saw with Hurricane Debby, which made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida on August 5, 2024, water levels rise and allow manatees to access ponds and waterways they can’t normally reach. Once the water recedes to normal levels, these manatees can become entrapped and require rescue from trained responders.
Last week, after two manatees were spotted in a golf course pond in Crystal River, a team from the University of Florida, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Clearwater Aquarium and Fish and Wildlife Research Institute responded to the area, removed the entrapped manatees and relocated them to open water nearby.
View a video of the rescue at this link: instagram.com/fwcresearch/reel/C-tBFrxyMvQ/.
If you see a manatee in need of assistance, please report it to the Wildlife Alert Hotline, as soon as possible, at 1-888-404-3922.