Sea World To Treat Manatee Rescued Off Cape Cod

The Associated Press

Manatees do not eat if they get too cold.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Tbo.com
Published: October 11, 2008

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DENNIS, Mass. - A wayward manatee is headed south after being pulled from frigid waters off Cape Cod in an early morning rescue.

The juvenile male manatee wandered into Sesuit Harbor in Dennis this week. Wildlife officials decided to pull him out Saturday amid concerns about his health in the frigid Cape waters.

Manatees are normally found off Florida and Georgia and stop feeding if they get too cold.

Chris Cutter of the International Fund for Animal Welfare said boats on both sides of the animal trapped him in a net and hoisted him onto a barge. He was then moved by forklift to a truck as dozens of onlookers clapped.

Workers will keep the manatee wet during the 20-hour drive to Sea World in Florida.

Once he's rehabilitated there, he'll be released into the wild.