In November, a 9-foot-long, 855-pound female manatee swam into the GUC Wastewater Treatment Plant’s (WWTP) effluent canal. Several agencies within the state and nationally, along with our own WWTP staff, responded to rescue it before the water turned too cold. This manatee rescue is the first of its kind in North Carolina and sparked national news coverage that reached as far west as California and as far north as Illinois. 

According to Bryon Orr, Operations Crew Leader, on Friday, November 15, a fisherman on the Tar River spotted the manatee and alerted him that it was swimming near our GUC canal. “I was expecting it to back out into the river and swim away,” Bryon said.

However, early Monday morning, SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescue Team, the Clearwater (Florida) Marine Aquarium Research Institute, and North Carolina Aquarium were on sight to monitor the manatee’s progress as water temperatures were expected to drop. 

“The first thing we did was hold a safety briefing,” Bryon said. “And SeaWorld and the other agencies were very professional in explaining how the process would work.” 

Kevin Hardee, Chemist II, and Bryce Brinson, Lab/Pretreatment Technician, launched the GUC boat out into the river to monitor the animal as rescue initiatives were planned, only to find that the manatee had left the confines of the river water and swam into our effluent canal. 

The canal water that day was 70 degrees – which was much warmer than the river. Manatees are intolerant to cold temperatures, so the heat of the canal water drew her in. 

JoEllen Gay, Laboratory Pretreatment Manager, Megan Tillery, Chemist I, and Jasmine Phillips, Chemist I, said they were initially at the canal that morning to watch the rescue. As they watched, the rescuers from SeaWorld tapped them for help. “They ended up needing some extra hands, so we helped drag the nets,” JoEllen said.

Rescuers placed those nets at the end of the canal to make sure they could corral the manatee into manageable space inside the canal for ease and safety of the rescue. According to JoEllen, it took nearly ten people to carry the net, including herself, Jasmine, Megan, Operations Supervisor Chris Hill, Bryon, Maintenance Crew Leader Scott Getsinger, Operator II Steve Hedgepeth, and Maintenance Supervisor Justin Elks. 

“We were trying to help in whatever way we could,” she said. “It was definitely a team effort from everyone. In the process, we stayed safe, wearing safety shoes and watching our steps.” 

They also helped carry the sling that would eventually be what rescuers used to haul the manatee into a waiting truck. From start to finish, the rescue only took about an hour, but it would be one of the most memorable hours of their careers. It will also likely be something that the manatee remembers as well. “One of the rescuers said that there is a very good chance she will never forget the effluent ditch and could come back,” Bryon said.

Since the manatee rescue, Bryon periodically checks the canal, as he learned this species is migrating farther up north than ever before, with other manatee sightings in the Pamlico River soon after this rescue. 

“It was amazing,” said Jasmine about her experience being a part of the team that gave a helping hand to the rescue. “I just helped save a manatee. I had never been up close to one before, and I just helped save one.”

The North Carolina Aquarium representative told Bryon that the rescue mission video footage he shot will likely be used to inform future manatee rescue operations. Manatees are an endangered species with only a population estimated at 13,000, with approximately 8,000 in North America.

SeaWorld officials said, “the timely intervention of the rescue teams ensures the manatee will receive the critical care needed for recovery.”

Affectionately named Aqua Lynn by Bryon, the manatee was returned by 8:30 p.m. to Florida on the same day it was rescued. It had suffered boat propellor wounds, which were treated. According to Bryon and reports in the media, the manatee will be nursed back to health in a manatee sanctuary and then released back into the wild. 

Media Coverage

As of December 5th, Public Information staff documented 36 different news stories shared around the country in the weeks following the manatee rescue. You can find links to some of the stories in this article at Spotlight.guc.com.

Media Coverage 

As of December 5th, Public Information staff documented 36 different news stories shared around the country in the weeks following the manatee rescue. Here are links to some of the stories: 

The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Sick sea creature not often found in NC is now recovering 650 miles away, officials say 
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article295852314.html 

Yahoo! News (National) 
Manatee rescued from Tar River in NC, first live rescue in the state 
https://www.yahoo.com/news/manatee-rescued-tar-river-nc-205703416.html 

Sandhills Sentinel (Sandhills Region, NC) 
First North Carolina live rescue of a manatee 
https://sandhillssentinel.com/first-north-carolina-live-rescue-of-a-manatee/ 

Washington Daily News (Washington, NC) 
Manatee, spotted earlier in Pamlico River, rescued in Tar River 
https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/2024/11/27/manatee-spotted-earlier-in-pamlico-river-rescued-in-tar-river/ 

CBS17 (Raleigh, NC)
Manatee rescued from Tar River in NC, first live rescue in the state 
https://www.cbs17.com/community/the-bright-side/manatee-rescued-from-tar-river-in-nc-first-live-rescue-in-the-state/ 

OBX Today (Nags Head, NC)
First North Carolina live rescue of a manatee 
https://www.obxtoday.com/first-north-carolina-live-rescue-of-a-manatee/