FWC: Manatee stuck inside storm drain in Melbourne Beach; rescue attempts happening now

MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. - An adult manatee has become stuck inside a storm drain in Melbourne Beach, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Local, state, and federal agencies are now working to determine how to best help the manatee.

What we know:

In a brief statement, the FWC said the manatee appears to be active and is not showing any obvious signs of cold stress. However, its overall health condition is not known.

Manatee trapped in storm drain; rescue effort underway

A manatee became trapped in a storm drain in Melbourne Beach on Thursday, prompting a multi-agency rescue effort, officials said.

"FWC is onsite and is working closely with federal, state, and local partners to evaluate the situation and determine the safest possible response options for both the manatee and responders. Planning is ongoing, and response options are being carefully reviewed. We will provide additional updates as more information becomes available."

What they're saying:

Melbourne Beach Town Commissioner and Vice Mayor Terry Cronin said the animal was discovered during routine stormwater system improvements. A surveyor spotted the manatee inside a "baffle box," a structure designed to collect debris from runoff before it enters the Indian River. This comes just one week after Central Florida experienced sub-freezing temperatures.

Melbourne Beach officials coordinate rescue of manatee trapped in storm drain

A manatee trapped in a storm drain in Melbourne Beach is the focus of an urgent rescue operation, town officials said Monday. Melbourne Beach Town Commissioner Terry Cronin said the animal was discovered during routine stormwater system improvements.

"The thought is that the manatee was seeking warmer water during that cold snap and went up the pipe from the Indian River and got stuck," Cronin said. "And so if we weren't doing the stormwater survey we would never have known that the animal was in there. So it’s very serendipitous."

Cronin praised the coordinated effort to free the endangered sea mammal, noting involvement from the town, Brevard County officials, Florida wildlife officials, SeaWorld veterinarians, and local fire departments. 

The town held an emergency meeting to approve funding to repair any road damage caused by the rescue operation. Cronin said traffic will be rerouted if necessary.

"I just hope and pray that they are able to help this animal," he said. "We have veterinarians on site who are going to examine her when they get her out."

If the animal requires further care, it will be transported to SeaWorld for rehabilitation.

Manatees are an endangered species, and Cronin emphasized the importance of the rescue. 

What is cold stress?

Dig deeper:

Cold stress is a potentially deadly condition for manatees. It happens when manatees have prolonged exposure to cold water. It causes their body to lose body heat and can impair digestion, according to the FWC.

Manatees thrive in water that is warmer than 68 degrees. When it gets cold, they often head to areas with warm water, such as springs or power plant discharge sites, the FWC.

Manatees suffering from cold stress may have bleach spots on their skin, abscesses, unhealed sores, appear underweight, or be covered in barnacles or algae.

What you can do:

Manatees are a protected species. It's illegal to feed, disturb, or harm them.

If you see a hurt, sick, distressed, or dead manatee, you need to report it to the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline: 1-888-404-3922 (1-888-404-FWCC).