November is Manatee Awareness Month, and it couldn’t come at a better time for Alabama’s official state marine mammal.  November is the time of year when manatees begin the seasonal migration to warmer waters for refuge during the cold winter months. It is also the time when sighting reports become critical because manatees are at greater risk of stranding due to cold stress.

Researchers with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Mobile Manatees Sighting Network (MMSN) are closely monitoring the movements of manatees in Alabama and Mississippi to be sure the animals make their normal seasonal movements following the exceptionally cold winter of 2009 and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  Two manatees tagged in Alabama started their migration to warmer waters in Florida via the Intracoastal Waterway in October this year.  Not all manatees have left Alabama, however, and later migrants are at greater risk from cold stress. Manatees have been reported as recently as Nov 9, near the battleship in Mobile Bay, Alabama and as far west as Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Most manatees begin their migration when water temperatures drop below 68°F. There are approximately 5,000 West Indian manatees left in the United States, and nearly 5% of this known population died last year, primarily due to cold stress and boat strikes.

Researchers ask boaters in Alabama and Mississippi to help manatees migrate safely by using caution and keeping a look out when on the water.  Boaters can look for characteristic swirls resembling flat ‘dinner plates’ on the water, mud trails, or a snout or tail breaking the water's surface.  Senior Marine Scientist, Dr. Ruth Carmichael, commented, “It is important to remember that manatees are not always alone.  If you see one, there may be more, and they can be tough to see, especially in our turbid waters.” 

Dianne Ingram, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, adds, "We would also like to remind folks not to feed or bring water to manatees, a federally protected species, which can encourage them to stay too long in colder areas. With continued cooperation from the public, manatees are making a comeback rangewide, which is reassuring."

Wearing polarized sunglasses to improve vision, obeying speed zones, using poles, paddles or trolling motors when close to manatees, and having someone scan the water while under way will help locate and avoid manatees. MMSN Technician, Nicole Taylor advises, “Manatees need space and people who spot them should try not to alter their natural behavior.  The best rule of thumb is to stay at least 100 feet from manatees and report any sightings as soon as possible.” 
MMSN hopes to raise awareness through education and outreach efforts this winter, including publication of a seasonal newsletter and participation in public events.  Alabama and Mississippi residents can report sightings, sign up to receive the MMSN newsletter, learn where to see MMSN at events, or make a donation by phone: 1-866-493-5803 (toll-free, 24 hrs), online: http://manatee.disl.org, email: manatee@disl.org, or on Facebook (Mobile Manatees Sighting Network).

Media Contact:
Dr. Ruth Carmichael, Dauphin Island Sea Lab
E-mail: rcarmichael@disl.org
Phone: 251-861-2141 x7555

Denise Rowell, Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
E-mail:  denise_rowell@fws.gov
Phone: 251-441-6630

This manatee was stranded at the Alabama State Docks in winter 2008 (Photo credit: DISL/ R. Carmichael 2008)