Save the Manatee Club Statement on Hurricane Ian

Update: October 4, 2022
In the days following the landfall of Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida, wildlife officials have received and responded to several calls regarding stranded or entrapped manatees in the area, including Port Charlotte, Sanibel Island, and Sarasota. Please continue to be on the lookout for stranded manatees or lone manatee calves and immediately report any sightings to the FWC by calling 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

September 26, 2022
Statement from Aquatic Biologist and Save the Manatee Club Executive Director Patrick Rose:

“Save the Manatee Club (SMC) is actively monitoring the approach of Hurricane Ian. As Florida natives, manatees are well-adapted to the extreme weather events in our state. However, they do face significant risk during powerful storms. Storm surges can cause manatees to go far inland to areas they would not normally inhabit, where they can become trapped when the water recedes. Even in areas that are typical manatee habitat, such as Tampa Bay, waters that recede to irregularly-low levels can also leave manatees stranded.

“SMC will be in communication with our partners in the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership to ensure that any injured or stranded manatees are rescued and rehabilitated after catastrophic storms. Once it is safe to do so, we also encourage residents to keep an eye on local bodies of water and look for stranded manatees. Stranded, injured, or dead manatees should be immediately reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission by calling 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).”

Click here to watch Save the Manatee’s video about Manatees and Hurricanes >>

For inquiries, please email media@savethemanatee.org or call 407-539-0990.