Latest news with #manatee
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Unexpected animal spotted in shark-infested waters off Cape Cod... with locals now hoping to save it from dying of the cold
For the first time in almost a decade, a manatee has been spotted swimming in shark-infested waters off Cape Cod. Multiple sightings were reported of the large mammal around the Massachusetts town of Mashpee in late July. The sea creature, which appeared to be underweight, also briefly washed up on the tidal flats near Mattapoisett. Nadine Lysiak, of the New England Aquarium, told NBC Boston the manatee likely rode a warm water current north from the southern U.S., where manatees are more commonly found. But, despite the welcome sightings, locals and experts now fear the manatee could fall prey to sharks or freeze to death when the water temperature plunges. Sharks are a natural predator of manatee and the Cape is a known hotbed of activity, with great white sharks and bull sharks living in the waters, according to Ocean Today. Experts are also concerned the warm water will soon become too cold for the manatee to survive. 'There's some concern that soon this animal might have some physiological challenges and needs some interventions,' Lysiak said. MassWildlife has contacted the International Fund for Animal Welfare about potentially rescuing the creature, CBS News reported. Though rare, this isn't the first time a manatee has strayed far from home. In 2016, a pregnant manatee was rescued from the waters off Massachusetts, the Cape Cod Times reported. @SavetheManatee has asked that any manatee sightings be reported to local stranding networks.
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Manatee spotted on Cape Cod for first time in nearly a decade
A manatee has been spotted on Cape Cod for the first time since 2016. It was first seen in Mashpee on July 26, according to MassWildlife protected species program manager Erin Burke. It was seen again on July 29 in Mattapoisett, where it briefly ended up stranded on the tidal flats before people helped get it back into the water. MassWildlife has been in contact with the International Fund for Animal Welfare about potentially rescuing the manatee. Burke said water temperatures will soon dip below what a manatee can handle. "The reason they're concerned is because the animal doesn't look well, it looks a little thin," Burke said. Manatees typically make their home in the warm waters off Florida and the Gulf Coast and will migrate further north in the summer. It's uncommon, but not unheard of, for manatees to make their way up to New England, Burke said. A pregnant manatee was rescued on Cape Cod in 2016 as the water turned colder and then released in Florida. In 2023, a manatee was spotted in Quonochontaug Pond in Charlestown, Rhode Island and was later found dead. The IFAW said only four manatee sightings have been documented in Massachusetts in the last 17 years. It is working with federal wildlife officials to monitor the manatee. "We ask that anyone who encounters this manatee or any other marine mammal maintains a safe and respectful distance-at least 150 feet. Do not attempt to feed, touch, or closely approach the animal," the organization said in a statement. "These actions can be harmful to both the animal and the public, and in some cases are a violation of federal law." Anyone who sees the manatee in distress is urged to call the IFAW's stranding hotline at 508-743-9548.
CBS News
04-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Manatee rescued from fishing line entanglement by Florida Keys team during multi-day mission
A manatee is safely back in the water after one of its front flippers was severely entangled in a fishing line in the Florida Keys last week. On Saturday, the Dolphin Research Center (DRC) led a complex rescue of an injured manatee in close coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Dolphins Plus. According to the organization, Cooley's rescue took multiple days and required "many hours" of careful effort to safely free her. Dolphin Research Center The manatee, known as "Cooley," was found "suffering from a severe entanglement caused by fishing line wrapped tightly around her pectoral flipper," the DRC said. According to the organization, Cooley's rescue took multiple days and required "many hours" of careful effort to safely free her. Once disentangled, Cool was treated on-site by Dr. Scott Gearhart, the DRC's veterinarian. After a thorough evaluation and treatment at the rescue location, she was immediately released back into her natural habitat. According to the DRC, Cooley's rescue highlighted a "trouble, ongoing issue": She has been rescued multiple times in her life due to similar entanglement injuries. Additionally, her mother "Dually" — another manatee well-known by the DRC — has also been rescued over a dozen times over the years for the same hazard, the organization said. "This isn't just a one-time issue — it's an ongoing and serious threat to manatees in [Florida] waters," said Allie Proskovec, the public relations director for the DRC. "When the same animals are needing rescue again and again, it shows how urgent it is for all of us to take better care of our environment." According to the DRC, the organization is the only licensed manatee rescue team in the Florida Keys and plays "a critical role in responding to these emergencies and providing expert care for injured wildlife." "Fishing line entanglements remain one of the most common and preventable dangers faced by manatees," the organization said. "DRC urges anglers and the public to properly dispose of fishing line using designated recycling bins and to report injured wildlife immediately to the FWC." The DRC advises that if anyone spots a manatee that may be injured, entangled or in distress, to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1 (888) 404-FWCC (3922). If you want to learn more about the DRC or support its conservation efforts, visit or visit their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Beloved manatee dies after 54+ years due to watercraft collision
Paddy Doyle, a beloved manatee and long-term adoptee with the Save the Manatee Club, died from a collision with a watercraft near Jacksonville in April, according to officials. Paddy was one of the oldest documented manatees, having first been spotted at Blue Spring in 1971 before it became a protected sanctuary. Save the Manatee Club's Manatee Specialist, Wayne Hartley, remembers him as one of the first 18 manatees studied when genealogical research began there in 1980. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< He would visit Blue Spring every winter and summer months, and appeared in mating herds in Lake Monroe. 'Over the course of his lifetime, he dodged countless boats, adjusted to a changing environment as development in Florida expanded and experienced many changes to the environment of the St. Johns River that he was born into,' said STMC. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Over the years, additional protections to preserve manatees were implemented at Blue Spring and St. Johns River. 'Paddy Doyle is leaving behind a lasting legacy and will be sorely missed by so very many.' Below is a tribute video created by the Save The Manatee Club: [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
CNN
23-05-2025
- Science
- CNN
CNN10: The big stories of Friday 5/23, explained in 10 minutes
Today on CNN 10, we take you to the largest gypsum dune field in the world and find out what makes the geological feature so unique. We'll also learn what type of humanitarian aid has been allowed into war-torn Gaza this week, before getting an update on the fight to protect the manatee's food source in a Florida lagoon. And we'll find out how one teen is going to great heights to raise awareness for pediatric cancer research. All this and more on today's CNN 10!
