Manatee Carcass Salvage
Report a Sick, Injured, Dead, or Tagged Manatee
Call FWC's Wildlife Alert Toll-Free Number: 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922), press "7" to speak with an operator.
Cellular phone customers: *FWC or #FWC
FWC responds to reports to the Wildlife Alert Hotline from the public concerning dead manatees in Florida waters. Biologists, in collaboration with FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement, will verify the carcass either through a photo, video, or by sending a qualified first responder to the reported location. In most cases, carcasses are either recovered and transported to the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory, or are necropsied in the field when badly decomposed or in poorly accessible, remote locations.
Boats
Boats are used to tow floating carcasses to a boat ramp, beach, or other accessible area for recovery.
Trucks
Smaller carcasses can be loaded into the bed of a pick-up truck.
EzyLift
An EzyLift is a boom and winch system installed in a truck bed. This system can lift manatee carcasses that are up to 8 feet long or weigh up to 1,000 lbs.
Specialized Trailers
FWC has specialized trailers to transport large carcasses. Once a carcass has been towed by boat to a boat ramp, it can be loaded into a trailer to be transported for necropsy.