Manatee found dead in Largo, FWC investigating cause of death

Manatee death investigation in Largo

FOX 13's Jennifer Kveglis talked with neighbors and investigators to see what might have caused this death.

LARGO, Fla. - A manatee was found dead in an inlet off of Arvis Cirlce E. in Largo and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says they are investigating.

The FWC is investigating what happened after a manatee was found dead in Largo on Saturday. Courtesy: Peter Lang

A neighbor reached out to FOX 13 on Saturday morning saying that he had found a dead manatee in the water.

Peter Lang spotted the manatee from his backyard. "We saw this thing and my wife goes, ‘what is that?’ She said, 'it looks like a manatee' and I thought they come in here to mate, so it’s just like mating or hanging out," he explained. Lang paddled his kayak over and realized the manatee was not moving. "At first, I was thinking it might be alive, but it wasn’t. It was upside down with a fin, one of the fins weighing over its chest," he said.

Lang said this isn't something he'd expect to see. "We’ve lived here for five years. We’ve seen manatees, dolphins, obviously fish all over the place, but I’ve never seen something like this."

The FWC is conducting a necropsy on the manatee. A spokesperson told FOX 13 Saturday afternoon, that at this time, there's no evidence of any gunshot wounds or watercraft injuries.

The investigation is active and anyone with information is asked to contact the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC(3922).

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