FWC transfers manatees stranded at Whiskey Creek canal to park

A group of manatees stuck in the Whiskey Creek canal after Hurricane Idalia’s storm surge raised water levels have been relocated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC confirmed Wednesday morning that all five manatees were rescued and relocated to Horton Park in Cape Coral.

• Related: Manatees stuck in a Whiskey Creek canal

Following Hurricane Idalia’s storm surge, a week ago, the FWC received multiple calls pertaining to displaced animals swimming into places where they could not escape.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies, the Mote Marine Aquarium, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Zoo Tampa and the University of Florida all assisted FWC in the relocation of the sea cows.

It took them close to three hours to get the five manatees out of the waters of Whiskey Creek. People in the water made little bubbles to attract the curious sea cows and boats helped shepherd them into a net where they could then be pulled out.

All the animals got a clean bill of health and were then taken by car to Horton Park, the closest place they could drop off the animals.

Teams wrapped them in a blue tarp, like a hammock, and carefully loaded them off the truck for a seamless release.

Last to be released was a mother and her calf.

The rescue was completed by early Wednesday afternoon.

FWC expects displaced animals and storm surge when a hurricane or tropical storm hits Florida. FWC assesses the situation and sees which are in the most dire need of help.

When a circumstance is considered severe, it’s when they’re in a place where water levels can go down, and they’re left high and dry. That was not a problem at Whiskey Creek, where the manatees were rescued.