DAUPHIN ISLAND, Alabama (May 18, 2016) — As warm weather has arrived, so have the northern Gulf’s seasonal endangered visitors – West Indian manatees. Researchers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network (DISL/MSN) have received close to a dozen sightings of manatees in Alabama and Mississippi waters in the last month. Sightings have been concentrated in the Dog River area of Alabama, but manatees have also been seen in Baldwin County and as far west as Gautier, Mississippi.
Manatees are a federally protected endangered species; any activity that changes manatees’ natural behavior is harassment and is illegal.
Boaters are specifically advised to be aware of the manatee migration. Boat strikes are the leading cause of human-related mortality among manatees. Wearing polarized sunglasses and designating a manatee spotter onboard, particularly in local rivers and the delta, will allow you to see and avoid manatees.
“If you do see a manatee, you should cut your motor immediately and stay at least 100 feet from the animals to observe them safely,” Dauphin Island Sea Lab Senior Marine Scientist Dr. Ruth Carmichael advised.
DISL/MSN encourages manatee spotters to report their sightings as soon as possible.
“We have made some amazing discoveries from public sighting reports. Much of what we know about our local manatee population comes from sighting information shared with us from coastal residents and visitors to our area.” Dr. Carmichael said. “Every sighting is important, and if we can get sightings quickly, while animals are still in the area, that is even better.”
Founded in 2007, DISL/MSN receives hundreds of manatee sightings every year from manatee habitat across the southeastern U.S. It is the first, formal manatee sighting network dedicated to receiving and mapping manatee sightings in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Part of DISL/MSN’s research focuses on defining where manatees live and what they eat while visiting Alabama and surrounding waters.
How can YOU help? By reporting manatee sightings to the DISL/MSN research team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone (1-866-493-5803), email (manatee@disl.org), or the online sighting form (manatee.disl.org).
Like! DISL/MSN on Facebook. Find us under Mobile Manatees Sighting Network.
Volunteer. Call or log-on to find out how you can become a MSN volunteer.
Donate. 100% of your tax deductible donation will support local research and education activities.
Leave A Comment