Tropicana Field stingrays reach the aquarium safely after Milton

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Seven cownose rays made it safely to a habitat at the Florida Aquarium after enduring Hurricane Milton in a touch tank at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The stingrays, named for their cow-shaped snouts, were relocated from the ballpark on Monday following last week's storm, the Tampa-based aquarium said in a news release. Although Tropicana Field's fabric roof was ripped apart by Milton's winds, the stingrays were unharmed.

“We are pleased to report that the cownose rays weathered the storm well. With the support of the Tampa Bay Rays, our staff were able to provide on-site care over the past few days and today we safely returned her to the aquarium,” said Craig Johnson, Florida Aquarium Assistant Curator.

The Stingrays spend the Major League Baseball season in Tropicana Field's 10,000-gallon (37,800-liter) Touch Tank, a popular fan attraction above the right-center field. They are now in their own exhibition space at the Florida Aquarium during baseball's offseason and when the team is eliminated from the playoffs.

Stingrays from the aquarium have been on display in the Touch Tank at the St. Petersburg Baseball Stadium since 2006. The cownose stingray species is common in the waters surrounding Tampa Bay.

The Rays are not expected to play in the stadium again until March 27, when they are scheduled to host the Colorado Rockies in the 2025 season opener. The team says it will take several weeks to assess the storm damage and determine next steps.

According to the Rays, the roof was designed to withstand winds of up to 110 mph. The stadium opened in 1990 at an initial cost of $138 million and is scheduled to be replaced in time for the 2028 season with a $1.3 billion baseball stadium that will be the linchpin of a major redevelopment project in downtown St. Petersburg represents.

The Florida Aquarium was not damaged during Milton, officials said. Staff moved penguins and other animals to higher floors, moved a rescued sea turtle from an Apollo Beach site to the Tampa aquarium and moved thousands of corals to safer locations.