Deceased Manatee Discovered At Bradenton Riverwalk

A deceased manatee was found along the shore of the Manatee River near the railroad bridge early this morning. Security officers preparing for the Bradenton Area River Regatta made the discovery and alerted authorities.

The Bradenton Police Department immediately contacted animal care specialists from The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature’s Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat. With assistance from the City of Bradenton Fire Department, officers and specialists carefully removed the 500-pound female manatee and transported her to Mote Marine Laboratory for further examination.

A necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, though initial concerns suggest the possibility of cold stress, a condition often affecting smaller manatees during the winter months.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to report any sightings of injured manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hotline at 1-888-404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cell phone.