In early February 2026, wildlife officials responded to an unusual emergency in Melbourne Beach. Somehow a juvenile manatee had became trapped inside a roadside storm drain! According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the manatee likely swam into the drain while searching for warm water during an unusual cold snap in Florida. Once found, FWC biologists worked alongside local fire rescue crews and veterinary staff to urgently and carefully dig through pavement and soil to reach the stranded manatee. The rescue took hours of planning and teamwork to make sure the large marine mammal could be removed safely without causing further harm. This included the usage of some pretty heavy machinery, including a crane to lift the manatee out carefully.
After the rescue, the young manatee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando for medical evaluation and rehabilitation. Animal care professionals examined the manatee to check for injuries and signs of stress before beginning supportive treatment. Luckily, the manatee is doing quite well, and hopefully can be re-released into the wild soon! Always remember if you see an injured or distressed manatee, report it to the local Wildlife Alert Hotlines immediately so trained professionals can respond quickly to help the injured animals.