The manatees are the first patients cared for at Mote since the organization received designation as a secondary care holding facility for manatee rehabilitation under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Sleet and Cabbage arrived at Mote on April 28, 2025, after receiving initial treatment at Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership acute care centers. Both animals showed signs of cold stress and significant weight loss when they were transferred.

At Mote, animal care teams provided ongoing medical treatment and monitored the manatees as they gained weight and improved body condition, requirements for release back into the wild. Officials said both animals showed steady progress under care and were ultimately cleared for release by the cooperative rehabilitation team.

Sleet was released in Crystal River on Tuesday, December 9. Cabbage was released the following day, Wednesday, December 10, at Tampa Electric’s Big Bend discharge canal. The releases were conducted in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, and the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

Florida has experienced unusually high numbers of manatee deaths in recent years, driven by seagrass loss, harmful algal blooms, cold stress, vessel strikes, and other threats. These conditions have increased the demand for rehabilitation and holding facilities across the state.

With its new designation, Mote is housing non critical manatee patients, overseeing the final stages of rehabilitation, and preparing animals for return to the wild in its expanded facilities.

“The successful release of these two patients represents significant progress in statewide manatee conservation efforts,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote’s President and CEO. “It reflects the strength of our rehabilitation team and Mote’s commitment to advancing science based care that directly benefits this vulnerable species.”

As part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership, Mote works with agencies and organizations statewide to rescue, rehabilitate, release, and monitor manatees while supporting research and public education efforts.

The post Mote Marine Laboratory releases first two rehabilitated manatees appeared first on Englewood Review.

“Manatees are highly dependent on safe and reliable warm-water sites to survive the winter,” said Michelle Pasawicz, FWC Manatee Management Program Coordinator. “As water temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, Florida’s manatees seek refuge at springs, power plant discharge areas and other warm water sites where they’ll spend the winter until temperatures rise again in spring.”

Despite their large size as adults, manatees can be tough to spot in the water. Going out on a boat or personal watercraft? You can better see manatees by wearing polarized glasses, going slow and abiding by all manatee protection zones. During colder months, seasonal manatee zones require boaters and personal watercraft users to reduce speed in or avoid certain areas to prevent collisions that can injure or kill manatees. Manatee protection zones are marked by waterway signs; maps of these zones are available online at MyFWC.com/MPZ.

Boat strikes are a major threat to Florida manatees and FWC law enforcement officers patrol state waters, informing boaters of seasonal manatee speed zones and taking appropriate enforcement actions when necessary. Boaters and personal watercraft users are reminded to comply with the regulatory signs on waterways.

When viewing groups of manatees at warm-water sites, it is important to give them space. Disturbing manatees at these sites can cause them to swim out of protected areas and into potentially life-threatening cold water. Manatees are a protected species, and it is illegal to harass, feed, disturb or harm them.

If you see an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee, report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) so that trained responders can assist. Do not try to physically handle an injured or sick manatee yourself, which can cause more harm to the animal and potentially put you at risk of serious injury.

Educational resources for waterway users and other interested members of the public are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee. The Viewing Guidelines page on this website provides helpful tips on how to respectfully observe manatees, additional guidelines for boat and personal watercraft operators, and information on what you can do to help with manatee conservation.

For those looking to support the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts, you can purchase a Florida manatee license plate or donate $5 to receive a collectable FWC manatee decal. Both are available from your local Tax Collector’s office.

The post Go slow and look below for manatees on the move appeared first on Englewood Review.