St. Johns County – Florida wildlife officials responded Saturday after a massive manatee mating herd off the coast of St. Johns County ended with three manatees stranded on shore — including the exhausted female at the center of it all.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), more than 100 male manatees were spotted pursuing a single female near Porpoise Point, a behavior officials say is entirely normal during breeding season. The sheer number of males, however, proved to be too much for the female manatee to handle.
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Female exhausted, helped ashore by locals
The female manatee, overwhelmed by the relentless pursuit, became exhausted and eventually made her way onto shore, where she was spotted by local residents. Two of the males chasing her also ended up beaching themselves alongside her.
FWC officials confirmed that this type of large-scale mating event, sometimes called a “mating herd,” is typical behavior for manatees during breeding season. The manatees had been in the water since 8 a.m. Saturday, and crews were actively working to guide all three animals safely back into the water.
Despite the dramatic scene, FWC confirmed that none of the three manatees were injured. Wildlife crews remained on the scene to monitor the animals and ensure a safe return to the water.