What to do if you spot a Manatee on the Carolina Coast

NORTH CAROLINA (WWAY) — As temperatures continue to warm up along the Carolina coast, we could soon have a very special marine mammal visitor.

Manatees are summer visitors to our coast, migrating north in search of food when waters warm. Researchers with the UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program are studying how many make the trip each year.

They also remind boaters to watch for manatees, as they can be seriously injured by boat strikes. and when temperatures drop. They’re also vulnerable to cold stress, much like sea turtles.

Program Director Dr. Michael Tift says if you spot a manatee to enjoy it from a distance and never feed or approach it.

“If they stay for too long and the water is 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, they can get cold shock syndrome and die very quickly,” says Dr. Tift. “We don’t want to ever encourage to feed these animals or give them water, even though they may act like they like it, because that will keep the animals here.”

If you spot a manatee, you can snap a photo or video from a safe distance and report the sighting through the program’s website. Those reports help researchers track manatee movements and populations.