What to do if you encounter wild animals after a major storm

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP/Gray News) - Wildlife may be more visible after a major storm, especially in flooded areas.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises people to keep their distance and give animals space.The FWC says:Alligators and snakes: Keep away. You may see more after a storm. Report concerns about an alligator to the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.Manatees and sea turtles: Rough weather can strand manatees or wash sea turtle hatchlings ashore. Report a stranded, injured or dead manatee, or a hatchling found tangled in seaweed or somewhere it doesn’t belong, by calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922.Bears: Secure food that could attract bears. If spoiled food is in storm debris, keep it separate from other debris. Report conflicts to FWC regional offices during business hours or call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922 after hours.More information is available at Wildlife and Storms and in FWC’s Storm Safety with Wi