As Hurricane Helene battered Florida, manatees were among the many wildlife species impacted by the storm. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is actively responding to reports of stranded manatees, often left vulnerable in shallow waters due to the rough weather.
In collaboration with local communities and dedicated partners, FWC biologists are working to rescue and rehabilitate these gentle giants. Manatees stranded by storms may require urgent medical care, and the FWC urges the public not to attempt handling stranded animals themselves.
If you encounter a stranded, injured, or dead manatee, you are asked to contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
“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.” the FWC stated.
They continue to encourage people to report injured wildlife through the hotline or at MyFWC.com/contact/wildlife-alert/.