Quick Take
- A manatee was found trapped inside a storm drain in Florida, prompting a complex rescue mission.
- After being freed and treated for minor injuries and weight loss, Melby successfully recovered during rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando.
- Melby was released back into the wild with a microchip to help identify him if he becomes stranded again.
Melby the manatee has been released back into the wild after a tricky encounter with a storm drain! The beleaguered marine mammal was stranded in a drain in Melbourne Beach, Brevard County, Florida. According to local news reports, Melby recovered well from his ordeal before he was released.
How Was Melby Rescued and Rehabilitated?
Melby, an adolescent male manatee, was discovered in a storm drain by employees of a surveying company. A call to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert Hotline triggered a multi-agency response.
The road had to be excavated to access the storm drain and free Melby. Brevard County Fire Rescue protected Melby while utility workers dug up the asphalt.
Melby was then taken to SeaWorld Orlando to start his rehabilitation. At first, he was a little stiff and underweight, with some wounds. During his rehab, his weight rose from 410 pounds to 515 pounds. His wounds were treated, and a minor infection was cured with some antibiotics.
A large crowd from the local community gathered to watch Melby’s release on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Because he has been microchipped, Florida wildlife staff will be able to identify him if he gets stranded again!
Manatees in Storm Drains
The state of Florida has a large population of manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), but housing, agriculture, and commercial developments have greatly altered their habitats and depleted their resources. They prefer to live in shallow water and are often seen in slow-moving rivers and canals. These guys also prefer warm water. They are gentle, slow-moving creatures that spend most of their time eating water grasses, weeds, and algae, as well as resting.
Manatees prefer warmer water.
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No one knows exactly how Melby ended up in the storm drain, but he is not the only manatee to have become trapped in such a way. According to local news reports, between 2005 and 2025, the Florida Wildlife Commission recorded 37 live manatees stranded in culverts, pipes, or storm drains. Sadly, 36 manatees perished in similar circumstances.
Their preference for warm water may be causing them to become trapped in storm drains. Water in storm drains is usually warmer than the surrounding water, which may attract them. However, entrapments also occur during the summer, probably because manatees are naturally curious.
