Migrating Manatees!

Manatee at an excursion seen by one of our staff in Crystal River, Florida!

Last week two of our captains witnessed a manatee on the move! The crow favorite sea cows are gentle marine mammals that migrate seasonally in response to water temperature. Because they are highly sensitive to cold stress, manatees *typically* begin moving south when water temperatures dip below about 68°F, seeking out warmer coastal waters, springs, and estuaries during the winter months. In South Carolina, manatees are most commonly spotted during the warmer months in areas like Charleston Harbor, the ACE Basin, Beaufort, and along tidal creeks and salt marshes. These curious herbivores spend much of their day grazing on seagrasses, sea lettuce and other aquatic vegetation.

Manatees are protected under both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, making it illegal to harass, harm, feed, or disturb them in the wild. While Florida is home to the largest population of West Indian manatees, sightings in South Carolina have become increasingly common during warmer seasons as these animals travel farther north. This is possibly because SC waters are staying warmer longer and providing more habitat. Boaters are encouraged to slow down in shallow waterways and keep an eye out for manatees, since vessel strikes remain one of the greatest threats to their survival.