Manatee Hit By Watercraft Rescued In Venice: Police

VENICE, FL — A distressed manatee was rescued from Venice waters Thursday, authorities said.

The adult female manatee had watercraft-related wounds and had severe fishing line entanglement on her left pectoral flipper, the Venice Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

The manatee was brought to ZooTampa at Lowry Park for rehabilitation.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, ZooTampa, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and Sarasota County’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources assisted VPD’s marine unit with the rescue.

To report a distressed, deceased, or entangled manatee call the FWC hotline at 888-404-3922.