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Video shows ‘fever’ of stingrays swimming past a Florida resort

By Lauren Silver, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Video shows ‘fever’ of stingrays swimming past a Florida resort File photo. The video shows the animals gliding through the water and around swimmers in their way. (PREDRAG VUCKOVIC/Getty Images)

By Lauren Silver, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Video taken outside of a Florida resort shows what appears to be more than a hundred stingrays swimming in the shallow water.

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The video, taken by guest Dana Baquero at the Lani Kai Island resort in Fort Myers, was shared by the resort on its Facebook page. The video shows the animals moving as a group, gliding through the water and around swimmers.

🌴☀️ From his gliding beachside table, Sun Deck at Lani Kai guest Dana Baquero captured a school of stingrays as they skirted through the warm, shallow waters this afternoon, avoiding anyone in their path! During the warmer months, it’s important to do the “stingray shuffle” to avoid stepping on these otherwise harmless creatures. Big thanks to Dana for capturing this amazing footage — and for dining with us! ☀️🌺 #lanikailove #oldflorida #thanksforbeinghere #weloveourcustomers #sundeckfundeck #publicwelcome #familyownedandoperated #since1978

Posted by Lani Kai Island Resort on Saturday, June 18, 2022

“Excuse us, we’re coming through,” a woman can be heard narrating over the video.

Baquero told WSTP that his daughter was the first one to spot the stingrays while the family was visiting relatives.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that it is normal for stingrays to be found off the coast, alone, in pairs, or in larger groups known as “fevers.”

Despite the “defensive venomous barb” at the base of their tail, the FWC says stingrays are not aggressive. The best way to protect yourself from accidentally stepping on one and getting hurt is to do the “Stingray Shuffle.”

Doing the shuffle means instead of taking big steps in the water, you lightly slide or shuffle your feet, which alarms stingrays and gives them time to get away from you, according to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

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