BRADENTON, Fla. — Police in Bradenton were treated to an unusual sight in the water on Monday.
Its marine unit had just finished patrol when they said an unexpected “dock inspector” showed up -- a manatee!
Officers caught the manatee drinking fresh water flowing from the boat while crews waited for it to move along.
For safety reasons, police say they did not dock the boat until the manatee swam away.
The Florida manatee is a native species found in many waterways across the Sunshine State, and according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are only 8,350 left.
The threatened species is “considered one of the state’s keystone species whose behavior can alert researchers to the environmental and habitat changes that may otherwise go unnoticed in Florida’s waterways for extended periods of time,” the FWC stated on its website.
To report a distressed or dead manatee, call the FWC at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922). Cellphone users may also call #FWC or *FWC.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
