News Release

FWC searching for entangled manatee

October 8, 2007
Contact: Dani Moschella, (561) 625-5132 or (772) 215-9459

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists are asking for the public’s help to find a distressed manatee that is entangled in a crab trap line with a buoy attached.

The young adult manatee was first spotted months ago but was last seen Monday afternoon at Hammer Point in Tavernier, near mile marker 92.

The entanglement is cutting into its left flipper, which could cause infection, amputation or death. Officers, biologists and volunteers from the FWC and Dolphin Research Center are searching desperately for the animal.

“The manatee is very skittish, so we are asking the public to call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline toll-free at (888) 404-3922 if they spot it,” said manatee biologist Christy Hudak. “They should not try to catch it or disentangle it. Just call us and keep an eye on it.”

Entanglements are an ongoing problem. FWC biologists are aware of approximately five entangled manatees in the waters off the Florida Keys. For more information about the FWC’s Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program, which strives to prevent entanglements, visit MyFWC.com/mrrp/index.asp.