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Manatee Carcass Salvage

What happens when a field lab receives a report of a dead manatee? How do biologists locate and retrieve manatee carcasses?

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) often receives initial reports of dead manatees from concerned citizens. In each region, citizens telephone reports to FWC or other law enforcement personnel, field labs, or oceanaria (large marine aquariums), such as Mote Marine Laboratory or the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. No matter where the report initiates, the information is forwarded to the nearest field station via pager or telephone. A biologist at the field station then contacts the citizen to gather more information. The biologist will ask questions to verify that a manatee carcass was actually sighted. Citizens might be asked some of these questions:

1. What is the size of the animal?
2. How long have you been observing the manatee you reported?
3. Is the animal floating belly-up?
4. Are flippers visible?
5. Were you able to get a good view of the animal?

This complex procedure is actually accomplished quickly through the cooperation of multiple individuals. Rapid information that leads to carcass recovery is essential to biologists because fresher carcasses provide more information that is helpful to determining cause of death.

If the reported manatee might be injured rather than dead, biologists ask about the presence of visible wounds on the animal. If there are wounds, biologists will want to know if the wounds are pink, red, or white. Pink or red markings usually indicate a recent injury; white is a healed scar. Positive buoyancy (inability to submerge) and listing (leaning to one side) in the water often indicate a watercraft-related injury called pneumothorax. Pneumothorax occurs when air is stuck in the pleural (chest) cavity because broken ribs have punctured that cavity.

Biologists at the field labs will verify manatee carcasses or injured manatees in the immediate vicinity of the field station to which the report was routed. However, because each field station is responsible for such a large sector of the state, FWC law enforcement or other trained personnel are often called to verify carcasses. If the carcass is verified, the field lab asks FWC law enforcement to dispatch an officer to tow the manatee to the nearest boat ramp so the animal can be maneuvered onto a carcass trailer for transport to the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab (MMPL) for necropsy. If the animal is in a remote area where towing or recovery is not possible, or if the carcass is too decomposed for recovery, biologists perform a field necropsy. All data, even for field necropsies, are processed and housed at the MMPL.

To report an injured or dead manatee, please call 1-888-404-FWCC.