Manatee rescued from red tide near Bradenton. It’s the fourth in SW Florida in a week.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Mote Marine Lab rescued a sick and wounded manatee near Holmes Beach on Sunday.
The FWC tweeted on Thursday morning that the animal was lethargic, possibly due to red tide. It’s the fourth manatee they’ve helped rescue from red tide in less than a week.
The manatee also had a gash on its tail from a boat or watercraft and was taken to ZooTampa for treatment.
Red tide in Southwest Florida is a growing issue, and while the smell may turn away beachgoers, the blooms are harmful to wildlife like manatees.
Last Sunday, the FWC rescued a lethargic and unresponsive manatee in Lee County, near James City, likely because of red tide.
This manatee was sent to SeaWorld for treatment.
A third manatee was rescued from red tide on Feb. 24 from an unknown location, and a fourth small manatee was rescued near Tampa.
The bacteria that causes red tide, Karenia brevis, is deadly for fish because of the neurotoxins it creates. Red tide also causes respiratory problems in people.
There have been recent reports of dead fish near Anna Maria Island, Bradenton and Sarasota beaches because of red tide.
In a manatee mortality report from 2021, the FWC recorded 105 manatees that died related to red tide; so far in 2023, there are two.
