Nearly 20 manatees were rescued from storm drains in Satellite Beach, Florida, this week after they got trapped there searching for warmer water, officials believe.
"It's been cold lately and these canals are all filled with manatees,''
Satellite Beach Fire Chief Don Hughes said, according to Florida Today. "I wouldn't even begin to venture a guess as to how they got into the drainage pipes. They will go wherever there's warm water."
The 19 marine mammals, also known as sea cows, were released into the Indian River Lagoon, where officials believe they had originally come from, Florida Today reported Tuesday.
Local police and fire agencies worked with SeaWorld and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to rescue the animals from the drainage pipes as 50 to 100 onlookers watched.
Some of the animals were pushed back into the canal while others were pulled out using slings attached to earth-moving equipment.
"Manatees are incredibly curious,”
marine biologist Anne Spelman said, according to WFTV. “We've had this happen before where they follow a fresh water pipe. Pipes get smaller, the manatees get stuck. They're not real good at going backward and we usually have to go in and get them."
Spellman said she had a hunch and called the city to check the drainage pipes Monday.
Twitter users commented on the ordeal.
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