Hurricane Michael Victims Get Help Getting Back Home

OLDSMAR, FL -- While the nation is focused on the victims of Hurricane Michael in the Panhandle, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's Marine Mammal Rescue Team is rescuing some hurricane victims right here in Tampa Bay.

The wildlife rescuers believe either storm surge or an unusually high tide during Hurricane Michael gave three manatees access to a freshwater pond at the Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve just off Old Tampa Bay. When the tide receded, the manatees were trapped in the pond.

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, crews from the FWC, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and ZooTampa were on hand to wrangle the giant sea cows. FWC and University of Florida veterinarians were recruited to give the manatees health assessments before rescuers returned them to their home in the bay.

As of 1:30 p.m., the rescuers had managed to trap two of the manatees in a net and drag them to shore. The third manatee, however, continued to elude rescuers who searched the pond in kayaks and boats.

Patch will provide updates when they are made available.

Images via FWC

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