ORANGE CITY, Fla. — Free Wheelie.

Rescuers and manatee advocates took a chance Tuesday to free a manatee named Wheelie, who has a bicycle tire stuck around it. 

Rangers at Blue Spring State Park have known about the manatee for months now, but say Tuesday was a good time to catch the sea cow as the animals make their way to the spring from the St. Johns River.

They believe the manatee got stuck in the wheel as a baby. As it grew, the tire cut into its skin, and will most like need to be surgically removed.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the SeaWorld Rescue Team attempted Tuesday, but Wheelie slipped the nets.

SeaWorld and Save the Manatee Club, which advocates for the sea cows and tracks them, say they will continue to track Wheelie in the hopes of making another rescue attempt soon.

Meanwhile, if you see an injured manatee, call the FWC hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).