Following rescues and recoveries, manatees head back home

DRC member Lauren Kerr bids Scott a farewell before his release. KAITLIN PRINCE/Contributed

Two manatees rescued in the Florida Keys are back home in the ocean following their release on May 20 in Tavernier. 

Spookey, a female, suffered deep gashes from a boat strike on Oct. 6, 2019. She was rescued from the canal at the Jasmine Street area in Tavernier and transported to Miami Seaquarium. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Dolphin Research Center’s Licensed Manatee Rescue Team and volunteers from Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder combined for her rescue.

Scott, a male, was rescued by Dolphin Research Center’s Licensed Manatee Rescue Team on Feb. 4, 2020 from the area of 15th Street in Marathon. He had a large amount of monofilament fishing line entangling around his left pectoral flipper. Scott had eluded help for several years, but thankfully was successfully rescued and then taken to Miami Seaquarium for removal of the deeply entangled line and additional treatment and rehabilitation. 

Spookey and Scott were living together at MSQ and although Spookey was released first, she waited and when Scott got in the water, she followed him away.

Scott, a male, was rescued by Dolphin Research Center’s Licensed Manatee Rescue Team on Feb. 4, 2020 from the area of 15th Street in Marathon. He was released into the water on May 20. KAITLIN PRINCE/Contributed
Staff members from Dolphin Research Center and Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder prepare to release Scott into the waters. KAITLIN PRINCE/Contributed
Scott and Spookey swim away: Scott leads the way and Spookey follows as they swim into the ocean upon their release off the shores of Tavernier on May 20. KAITLIN PRINCE/Contributed