Toxic algae bloom blankets Florida beaches, prompts state of emergency

[Judi Lynn]

32. Florida Woman Rinses Off Manatee Lost in Algae Bloom With Hose: 'It Was Struggling to Clear Its Airw

Florida Woman Rinses Off Manatee Lost in Algae Bloom With Hose: 'It Was Struggling to Clear Its Airway'

Johanna Li
July 1, 2016

Since the state of emergency has been declared in four South Florida counties due to the excessive algae bloom, residents in the area have been complaining of its toxic results. One of those residents was a stray manatee, who appeared to be lost through the muddy water and wound up in a canal behind Chris Mascia Palas' home in Stuart.

"My family and I spotted a manatee struggling out behind our house in the canal," Mascia Palas wrote in a viral Facebook post. "It clearly was in search of fresh water."

Mascia Palas told InsideEdition.com she was shocked to find that a manatee had found its way into their canal, since neither she nor her neighbors have ever seen one in the area.

. . .

"As soon as (my husband) put the hose over the 'muck,' the manatee popped out of the water and started drinking water like never before," she told InsideEdition.com. "It was clear this mammal had not had water in a long time. You could see all the green algae coming out of its nose."

More:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-woman-rinses-off-manatee-210600494.html?nhp=1