Mobile Manatees
As weather and ocean temperatures begin to warm each spring, West Indian Manatees begin to travel into the bays and rivers of coastal Alabama. In 2007, the Mobile Manatees program was started to engage Alabama residents in helping to monitor this endangered species.
Viewer Tips:
- Report any manatee sightings to Mobile Manatees using the website http://manatee.disl.org or by calling the toll free number, 1-866-493-5803. Tell family members and friends to report manatee sightings, too!
- Do not tease, threaten, chase, feed, or touch manatees. The best thing you can do is to remain at least 100 feet from them. Because the manatee is an endangered species, any activity you do that changes the animal?s natural behavior is considered illegal.
- Be alert while boating. Boat strikes can cause severe injuries to manatees, and are the leading cause of human-related manatee mortality.
Seasons: Spring, Summer
(Source: Dauphin Island Sea Lab/Marine Environmental Science Consortium. Alabama Current Connection, Summer 2008; vol. 3, issue 2. Mobile Manatees Report Your Manatee Sightings.”" Mobile Manatees, a program of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. http://manatee.disl.org/.)
