1 manatee rescued, another stuck behind locked gate at Orange River

FORT MYERS, Fla.—An adult female manatee was rescued from the Orange River on Tuesday, just one week after more than 30 manatees were removed from nearby waters. The animal was found alive but in distress.

FWC assistant research scientist Denise Boyd said crews responded after concerned citizens called in a report of “a manatee in distress.”

When biologists arrived, they quickly realized the animal needed help.

“It was very, very thin, and it was floating on its side and unable to submerge,” Boyd said.

There were no obvious external injuries, but the manatee was unable to dive — a clear sign that something was wrong. The rescue required a coordinated response. Boyd said it takes significant manpower to safely retrieve an animal of this size.

“It does take 10 of us to rescue an animal in distress,” she said.

FWC biologists worked alongside the Lee County Sheriff's Office and Zoo Tampa to carefully lift the manatee from the water at Orange Harbor and load her onto a truck bound for SeaWorld Orlando’s rehabilitation facility.

Before transport, crews photographed the animal’s scar patterns, unique markings often left behind by vessel strikes, to help identify whether the manatee had been sighted earlier this year.

As for what caused the distress, and if it's related to the dozens found dead at Manatee Park, Boyd said veterinarians will look at that next.

“We don’t know. As biologists, our job is to collect the animals, take them to the rehab facility, or send them for further analysis by a veterinarian and pathologist. So we are just kind of the boots on the ground. These guys have to be examined by veterinarians and pathologists.”

FWC also confirmed there is another “animal of concern” behind a locked fence at Manatee Park. That manatee is on the agency’s list to intervene, but crews are currently unable to access the area.

For Boyd and her team, the past several weeks has been busy. Southwest Florida is an area that sees a high volume of rescues, something Boyd says is not unusual here, even if it weighs heavily at times.

“It’s unique because I am in an area that does high volume. It’s not completely unusual for us. We just do our best to help as many as we can,” she said.

If you see a manatee or other wildlife in distress, FWC urges the public to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. Officials ask people to keep their distance, avoid attempting a rescue themselves, and be patient, as responses often require large, coordinated teams.

FWC says every call from concerned citizens helps them respond quickly when an animal needs help most.