WATCH: Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Citizen Volunteers Rescue Five Stranded Pilot Whales

By  //  August 2, 2019

Groups worked to stabilize the animals, keep them wet, shaded and comfortable

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials received a call on the Wildlife Alert hotline this week and quickly worked with partners to respond and rescue five stranded pilot whales on Redington Beach. (FWC video)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials received a call on the Wildlife Alert hotline this week and quickly worked with partners to respond and rescue five stranded pilot whales on Redington Beach.

This mass stranding required collaboration by FWC and its stranding network partners as well as dozens of citizen volunteers. Groups worked to stabilize the animals, keep them wet, shaded and comfortable.

Veterinarians conducted health assessments and breathing observations were recorded. During this time another team of experts were deciding the best course of action based on those health assessments, logistics and vessel availability.

A few hours into the stranding response event, it was decided that three whales would be satellite-tagged and loaded onto two FWC vessels and one Clearwater Marine Aquarium vessel and released into deeper water, and two whales would be taken to CMA’s rehabilitation facility for additional evaluation prior to being tagged and released Aug. 1.

FWC would like to thank all citizens who offered help, donations of sunscreen, food and water and words of encouragement. It takes a village. We are privileged to do this work and honored to be able to work alongside the best stranding network.

Please remember that marine mammals strand for a reason, often the animals are sick or injured. Please don’t push the animal back into the water.

Call FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 to allow trained experts to respond.

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