Lee County Residents Come To The Rescue
After Hurricane Leaves Manatee High and Dry
|
|
In the chaos of Hurricane Charley's aftermath, extraordinary residents take time to rescue a manatee stranded by the storm surge. (Photo credit: Gary Coronado/Palm Beach Post/ZUMA Press)
|
At first, Jamie Crisp thought one of those manatee mailboxes had been tipped over by the storm. As he got closer, he realized it was a real manatee. Giving the words "surf's up" new meaning, Hurricane Charley's storm surge splashed a manatee onto Pearl Street. When the storm surge receded, it left the stunned and tired manatee high and dry on the side of the street like yesterday's newspaper.
With typical rescuers like the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission busy responding to the hurricane's aftermath, the phone lines down, and the power out (and a nearby house on fire), these amazing residents managed to rescue a manatee who would have otherwise likely been another victim of the storm. Jamie and a group of determined individuals quickly located a piece of plywood, rope, a trailer hitch and transportation. The manatee was gently loaded on the plywood sled and slowly transported to a nearby ramp and released back into the wild. Kudos to Jamie, his fellow rescuers, and the community who provided equipment, time, and strength to "MacGyver" a manatee rescue.
In Lee County, Florida, much-needed manatee protection measures have caused controversy within the ranks of some boating and fishing groups who would have you believe that if every manatee disappeared tomorrow it would be a good thing. Extraordinary circumstances bring out extraordinary people, and we thank these residents for reminding us all of just how special manatees are to most people.
If you see a dead or injured manatee or one that's been harassed, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's toll-free hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC, Channel 16 on your VHF radio, or #FWC or *FWC depending on your cell phone service.
Visit our Manatee Protection Tips page for more information on what to do if you spot an a dead, injured, tagged, or orphaned manatee.
