TAMPA (FOX 13) -
A Bayshore resident made a sad discovery Monday night: a
dead female manatee washed ashore.
She weighed more than 1,500 pounds.
Biologists spent the morning Tuesday removing her from the water.
They say they're not sure if Tropical Storm Debby had
anything to do with her death.
Two other manatees that were spotted with her swam away.
Andy Garrett, a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, said the other two manatees appeared to be in good
health. One was an adult, and the other was about seven to eight feet long -- a size inbetween adult and juvenile.
Garrett said he didn't see any obvious wounds on the dead
manatee, and that a full evaluation would be done on her to try to find out why
she died.
Sadly, Garrett said calls about dead manatees are not
uncommon: there are hundreds of them each year, statewide.
Anyone who sees a dead, injured or orphaned manatee can call
1-888-404-3922.
For more information:
http://myfwc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1188/~/reporting-a-dead,-injured-or-orphaned-manatee.
