'Harbor Tee' Made it Home

A manatee that had been successfully rehabilitated after a suspected boat strike injury was released Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce.

The manatee, an adult male dubbed “Harbor Tee,” had been spotted in the channel at FAU Harbor Branch by members of the institute’s Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment team in June. The manatee appeared to be injured on its back and in distress. The team alerted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), and the two agencies worked together to rescue the manatee along a nearby spoil island in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). The manatee was transferred to SeaWorld Marine Animal Rescue for care and rehabilitation.

This was not Harbor Tee’s first injury, said Amber Howell, an assistant marine mammal research scientist at FWC. He had several existing scars when he was brought in.

“This successful rescue and rehabilitation was made possible by strong inter-agency partnership and coordination,” said Steve Burton, director of the marine mammal team at FAU Harbor Branch. “Thanks to FWC’s quick response, we were able to rescue Harbor Tee. And SeaWorld’s expert, around-the-clock care allowed him to heal and be ready to return to his home in the IRL.”

SeaWorld transported Harbor Tee to FAU Harbor Branch via its marine mammal ambulance. The release was led by FWC with assistance from SeaWorld and FAU Harbor Branch. It is typical for manatees to be released in or near the same location they were rescued, Burton explained, so they will return to the wild in familiar territory.

After his release at the FAU Harbor Branch boat ramp, Harbor Tee stayed nearby for several minutes, even returning to the boat ramp briefly as the crowd dispersed.

Manatees are a federally protected species. It is illegal to feed, harass, harm or pursue manatees. Boaters must observe manatee protection zones to help avoid collision. The public is encouraged to call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 202-FWCC (3922) to report sightings of a manatee in distress.