Earth Day rescue: Manatee found with fishing lure lodged in mouth
MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Rescuers extended a helping hand to a manatee Tuesday that was found with a fishing lure lodged in its mouth.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute said staff at its Melbourne Beach lab teamed up with specialists from four organizations to help the marine mammal.
PHOTOS: Pinellas detective rescues young owl from busy Clearwater parking lot
The team safely removed the lure, completed a health assessment and equipped the manatee with new tracking gear, including a satellite tag.
Rescuers gave the manatee the name, 'Calliope,' before she was released back into the water.
Calliope's rescue happened to coincide with Earth Day. The FWC said it should serve as a reminder to 'stash the trash' and keep an eye out for distressed wildlife.
Those who assisted in the rescue included members of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, Save the Manatee Club, Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding and ZooTampa.
Anyone who spots a manatee that is deceased, injured, entangled, distressed, or tagged, is asked to call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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