ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A manatee that was trying to get to warm waters but couldn't find its way is now safe and sound thanks to help from wildlife officials last week in St. Petersburg.
On Jan. 19, a small and lone manatee was found in distress in the Bayboro Harbor, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a Facebook post.
Officials say staff from ZooTampa at Lowry Park assisted the FWC with its rescue.
Photos in the post show the young sea cow covered in a tarp with many wildlife officials working on the rescue.
The FWC says they believe the manatee is about 2 to 3 years old, meaning that it may have been its first winter without the help of its mother to find a suitable warm water refuge.
"When temperatures dip below 68 degrees, manatees must seek warm water refuge at natural springs or from artificial sources like power plant outflows to avoid cold stress," the FWC said. "During hard freezes and cold snaps, the low water temperatures can be fatal for manatees if they do not reach refuge in time."
The manatee reportedly had white lesions and sores due to the cold temperature. It is also believed it the sea cow must have been swimming slowly or sluggishly.
According to the FWC, the mammal was taken to ZooTampa to be cared for before eventually being released back into a habitat with warm water.
This incident was a familiar one for wildlife officials.
On the same date last year, the FWC received a similar report from a USF student who saw a different small calf showing signs of cold stress in the same harbor.
Just like this time around, officials were able to rescue the manatee.
To learn more about manatees, click here.
Anyone who sees a sick, hurt, lone or dead manatee is urged to contact the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.