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Grassy Key, FL – Dolphin Research Center (DRC), the only licensed manatee rescue team in the Florida Keys, responded to more rescues by May 2025 than in all of 2024, demonstrating both the growing threats to these gentle marine mammals and the dedication of those working to protect them.

Working alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and under the medical guidance of DRC’s in-house veterinarian, Dr. Scott Gearhart, the Manatee Rescue Team assesses and rescues manatees in distress. Injured or sick animals are transported to licensed rehabilitation facilities until they are healthy enough to return to the wild.

So far in 2025, rescues have included:

  • A juvenile male exhibiting signs of gastrointestinal infection in Key Largo.

  • A mother and calf after the mother had been struck by a boat in Islamorada.

  • In Marathon, a mother, named Stripes, and her newborn calf, later named Argyle, when the mother was found with severe fishing line entanglement. The entanglement resulted in a necessary partial amputation of a flipper. 

  • An orphaned calf in Key Largo.

  • Another mother and calf manatee, in Marathon, when the mother was found with a severe fishing line entanglement.

  • An adult, known as Cooley, was found with severe fishing line entanglement in Key Largo. 

  • Another adult, known as Kanagroo, with severe fishing line entanglement in Key Largo. 

  • A 9-foot adult male, after being struck by a boat in Marathon. 

Inside Perspective:
“Every rescue matters, because every manatee matters,” said Preston Surrage, Manatee Rescue Team and Environmental Services at DRC. “I’ve stood in the water with manatees barely moving, helped carry them into transport vehicles, and waited in the shallows during releases to see them swim free again. Those moments stay with you forever and remind you why we do this.”

Community support has been essential to these efforts. Locals have offered boats, kayaks, private ramps, and even basic supplies like sunscreen and water, while keeping watch over struggling manatees until rescuers arrive.

“This is what makes the Keys so special,” Surrage added. “It’s a community that comes together—not just for people, but for animals too. Every act of kindness makes a real difference.”

How the Public Can Help Protect Manatees:

  •  Report sightings to FWC. If you see a manatee in distress, contact FWC at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). STAY BY YOUR PHONE! Your communication can be vital in locating and rescuing a manatee in a timely manner.

  • Dispose of fishing line and gear properly. Even a small tangle can cause serious damage.

  • Slow down in manatee zones. These animals often rest just below the surface and may not be able to move out of the way.

  • Don’t feed, water, or touch wild manatees. It encourages dangerous behavior—like approaching boats and frequenting high-traffic areas, like marinas.

As a nonprofit organization, Dolphin Research Center relies on donations, memberships, and visitor support to continue this critical work.

For more information or to support the Manatee Rescue Team, please visit www.dolphins.org.

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Founded in 1984, Dolphin Research Center (DRC) is a nonprofit marine mammal education and research facility in Grassy Key, Florida. In addition to a family of dolphins and sea lions, DRC operates the only licensed manatee rescue team in the Florida Keys. Through education, research, rescue, and rehabilitation, DRC works to protect marine mammals and foster stewardship of the natural environment.

For more information or to support DRC’s conservation efforts, visit www.dolphins.org, or social media: Facebook and Instagram.

Media Contact: 

Allie Prokovec, Director of Media and Marketing

media@dolphins.org

305-289-1121, ext. 254