Family finds baby manatee stranded on Florida beach

STUART, Fla. (FOX 13) - A baby manatee was rescued after it was found stranded by an Ohio family vacationing in Florida.

Last week, the family noticed the lone calf in the shallow waters at Twin Rivers Park in Stuart, said Angela Millsap who was visiting. She told FOX 13 her boyfriend call the Wildlife Alert Hotline in order to reach the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. 

FWC officials said the family stayed with the little manatee until rescuers arrived. The male calf was found stranded on the beach with no adult manatees in sight. They said he measured to be three feet long and 30 pounds. 

The calf was found with lesions on his skin. He was not nursed in several days and was severely dehydrated, according to wildlife officials. He was transported to Miami Seaquarium and is being bottle-fed. Officials said it is rare to find a young calf survive the situation. 

FWC shared images of the baby manatee rescue on its Facebook writing, “Thanks to the caring family from Ohio.”

"I would think anyone would have done the same as we did," Millsap told FOX 13. "It was the best trip ever with an incredible experience to top it off."

FWC asks anyone who finds a distressed or dead manatee to call the agency's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.