Sleet

Patient Story

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is proud to announce the arrival of its first two manatee rehabilitation patients, Sleet and Cabbage, marking a major milestone in manatee conservation. This transfer signifies the launch of Mote’s role as a secondary care holding facility for manatee rehabilitation under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Sleet was rescued by members of USFWS, FWC, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, University of Florida, and ZooTampa on January 8, 2025 from Three Sisters Spring in Crystal River with signs of cold stress. Upon arrival at ZooTampa, Sleet received supportive care including gradual thermal therapy, fluids, and nutritional support to stabilize his condition. After 110 days of recovery, Sleet was deemed stable and transferred to Mote to continue rehabilitation.

What is Mote's role as a secondary care holding facility?

After rescue, injured, sick or orphaned manatees are transferred to a federally permitted acute care facility. Once medically stabilized, manatees may be transferred to a secondary care holding facility, such as Mote, for final stages of rehabilitation while awaiting release.
Over the past several years, Florida has experienced unusually high numbers of manatee mortalities, driven largely by seagrass loss, harmful algal blooms, and cold stress. Key threats placed extraordinary pressure on the state’s existing critical care centers, creating a significant need for expanded care and holding capacity. Mote’s new designation helps meet that need and supports a more robust statewide response to manatee rehabilitation and recovery efforts.

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