Manatee with watercraft wound rescued near Estero Bay
FWC said staff rescued the manatee that had a recent watercraft wound.
Manatees are typically in rivers, bays, canals, estuaries, and coastal areas where there is warm water and extensive beds of seagrass.
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FWC said helping protect manatees can be done by:
Practice smart boating by avoiding navigation through shallow grass beds
Avoid contributing to the problem of changing water chemistry through run-off.
Use grating rather than planks when building or repairing a dock, grates allow sunlight to penetrate the grasses living below.
The manatee rescued has been taken to ZooTampa for treatment.
According to FWC, Manatees are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. It is illegal to feed, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, annoy, or molest manatees.
To report an injured, dead, harassed, or orphaned manatee call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
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