Report a Manatee

Here are some tips for viewing manatees in the wild:

• Practice passive observation: Look at manatees from a distance and above water. Avoid touching, feeding, or giving water to manatees.

• Be mindful of noise and splashing: Manatees may be resting and not aware of your presence, so loud noises or activity could startle them. 

• Don't block their path: Avoid chasing or blocking manatees that are traveling.

• Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare and see below the water’s surface. Look for footprints on the water’s surface made by manatee tails or their nostrils as they surface; such as a swirl or flat spot on the water created by the motion of the manatee's tail, or a break in the water created by a manatee's snout, back, tail, or flipper.

• Slow down, especially around marinas. Reducing speed gives you a greater chance to avoid manatees and for them to avoid your vessel.

***If you see a manatee in the winter months on the Outer Banks, please call 252-455-9654 immediately. Manatees are vulnerable to cold stress when water temperatures dip below 65 degrees F.