Did sharks leave Florida waters during Ian? Experts discuss hurricanes’ impact on wildlife

• An array of animals can be hit hard by tropical storms and hurricanes – and Florida wildlife officials are assessing potential impacts following Hurricane Ian.
• Some animals, such as sharks, may have left the area altogether before Ian made landfall.
• Sea turtles can be hit hard by large hurricanes – as the storms can send 15 feet or more of storm surge over barrier islands and flood nests.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida is known for its phenomenal wildlife, from the birds to the beasts that comb swamps and roam beautiful shores. 

Sometimes the beauty gets disrupted, like it did last month when Hurricane Ian plowed into Southwest Florida as a devastating, near-Category 5 storm. 

This region has arguably the most vast array of wildlife, ranging from the endangered Florida panther to the invasive Burmese python. But now the tree canapes and plants are all brown and twisted, torn and ripped. 

So what exactly happened to all the animals? 

Some, such as sharks, may have left the area altogether before Ian made landfall. Others, such as manatees, may have been stranded as Ian pulled water from the rivers and bays. 

The good news is that these critters have evolved to deal with the impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes over the course of thousands of years, scientists say. 

Some species produce offspring several times a year. That way if a storm hits, there will still be another cycle of young during that same year. 

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Here’s what experts have seen following hurricanes from years past, as well as expectations for Ian’s potential impacts: 

Sharks, dolphins often flee

Tagged sharks from Sarasota south to San Carlos Bay left the Southwest Florida coast about 24 hours before Hurricane Charley made landfall in 2004. The data showed that the same sharks returned about 24 hours after Charley hit. 

“The sharks left just before the storm hit and then came back just after,” said Jim Beever, a former state fish and wildlife biologist. 

Research from the University of Miami shows a similar response in sharks. 

Beever said dolphins tend to avoid the storm as it comes in and then quickly move back into the bays and rivers. 

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West Indian manatees face stranding

The West Indian manatee, or sea cow, also faces challenges from tropical storms and hurricanes.