TAMPA, Fla. — The current red tide bloom in Tampa Bay area beaches is not only affecting spring breakers, but also wildlife.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reporting medium to high concentrations of the algae bloom in Pinellas down to Manatee County.


What You Need To Know

  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continues to monitor red tide in Tampa-area beaches.

  • Red tide can cause respiratory irritation in humans and fish kills.

  • A wildlife hospital in Indian Rocks Beach is seeing a large influx in birds with red tide poisoning.

  • The Florida Department of Health says it's safe for humans to eat seafood from restaurants and grocery stores.

Red tide can cause respiratory and skin irritation in humans, according to the FWC. The Wyckoff's come to Florida every year to escape the New Jersey Winters.

They've been in the Tampa area for almost two months now and said every time they go to the beach they start coughing. 

“It’s not the same sitting around a pool all day," Thomas Wyckoff said. "This is our dream being here. But the red tide is making it really bad.”

The harmful algal bloom can also cause fish kills, leaving dead fish washing up on the sand. But red tide can be dangerous for any wildlife in the waterways, especially for those that eat fish.

The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Rocks Beach is finding more and more birds sick with red tide poisoning.

Melissa Edwards, the director of the avian hospital, explained when a bird eats fish that are contaminated or have died from red tide, it causes a neurotoxin.

"The symptoms of red tide are pretty obvious," Edwards said. “Birds will appear almost drunk, not able to stand fully, kind of falling over and just looking generally in distress at the beach. So, if you are walking our beaches and you see a bird that’s not able to stand or seems to be having trouble walking, you definitely want to give us a call.”

Because of the high demand, the hospital is asking for donations of bleach, laundry detergent and other supplies to keep up with the number of birds staff is treating every day.

“It can either be three days or a month long requirement for the rehabilitation depending on how severe they were off in the wild due to the red tide," Edwards said. "Costs for our medical supplies, the anti-toxin treatment that we use can get quite expensive.”

Edwards said some birds show worse symptoms than others and the sooner they get treated, the better. While birds may get sick from eating contaminated fish, the Florida Department of Health said seafood found in restaurants and grocery stores is monitored by the government and comes from waters free of red tide.

Meanwhile, beachgoers said the sooner red tide goes away, the better. 

“It’s a great beach, it’s a shame we’ve got red tide and stuff like that because we enjoy being here," Wyckoff said. "I just hope it goes away somehow.”

Scientists with the FWC said the currently bloom they've been tracking for several weeks is unpredictable and they don't know exactly when it may go away. But, the direction of the wind and currents can push red tide out.