Marine Mammal Field Stations
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
Marine Mammal Field Stations
There are five field stations located throughout Florida that respond to reports of sick, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammals. Field station wildlife experts are involved in core research projects lead by colleagues stationed at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute headquarters in St. Petersburg; these projects include the Manatee Photo-identification Program, Population Monitoring, Radiotelemetry and Tracking, Genetics Sampling, and Manatee Warm-Water Habitat Temperature Monitoring. Staff also attend outreach events to promote manatee stewardship through education.
Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory - Northwest Field Station
The Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory (MMPL) is located on the campus of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. MMPL staff respond to manatees throughout the northwest section of Florida from Escambia County at the Alabama border to Manatee County just south of Tampa Bay. They also respond to cetaceans (dolphins and whales) in the Tampa Bay Area. The majority of manatee carcasses recovered statewide are transported to the MMPL for necropsy, as it is the only field station with a dedicated necropsy lab.
Charlotte Harbor Field Lab - Southwest Field Station
The Southwest Field Station (SWFL) is located in the Charlotte Harbor Field Lab in Port Charlotte, Florida. SWFL lab staff respond to manatees throughout the southwest section of Florida from Sarasota County to the mainland portion of Monroe County. They also respond to cetaceans (dolphins and whales) in Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties.
Tequesta Field Lab - Southeast Field Station
The Southeast Field Station (SEFL) is located in the Tequesta Field Lab in Tequesta, Florida. SEFL staff respond to manatees throughout the southeast section of Florida from St. Lucie County to the Keys portion of Monroe County. They also assist local stranding networks with cetaceans (dolphins and whales) in St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties.
Melbourne Beach Field Lab - East Central Field Station
The East Central Field Station (ECFL) is located in the Marine Mammal Research Laboratory alongside Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute in Melbourne Beach, Florida. ECFL staff respond to manatees throughout the east central section of Florida from the southern half of Volusia County to Indian River County.
Jacksonville Zoo Field Lab - Northeast Field Station
The Northeast Field Station (NEFL) is located on Jacksonville Zoo grounds in Jacksonville, Florida. NEFL staff respond to manatees throughout the northeast section of Florida from Nassau County at the Georgia border to the northern half of Volusia County. They also respond to cetaceans (dolphins and whales) in St. Johns, Putnam, Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties.