Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@michaelvstheworld
Wind and rain weren’t the only things Hurricane Irma brought to Florida. Sunday afternoon, the storm left two manatees stranded as it drew water back in along the bay.
North of Sarasota, the manatees were left deserted on dry land after the water was sucked back to the water way. Thankfully, for some observant people, the manatees were spotted and released safely back to the water.
“Went out to the bay and saw two objects out where the water receded so we took off our shoes and walked out through the shells to find two beached manatees,” Michael Sechler wrote in a Facebook post Sunday afternoon that has since been shared more than 3,300 times.
To the rescue!! Law enforcement officials and local citizens finally showed up. They rolled the manatees on a tarp and dragged them about 100 yards to the water. The manatees swam away happily when released back to the water. Phew! It was a close one!
A marine mammal biologist said there were several reports of beached manatees on beaches. However, they are accustomed to being tidally stranded at some points. Females sometimes even beach themselves during mating season.
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