An endangered Florida manatee was rescued from Sesuit Harbor in Dennis, Massachusetts on Saturday October 11, 2008. The manatee, named Dennis after the town where he was rescued, died en route to SeaWorld Orlando on Sunday, Oct. 12th. Had Dennis survived, he would have received medical treatment at SeaWorld, a facility that rehabilitates numerous manatees with a variety of injuries and ailments each year. “Save the Manatee Club commends the Massachusetts citizens who notified authorities about this manatee, including Harbormaster Terry Clen and Deputy Harbormaster Rick Lemont,” said Patrick Rose, Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club. “SeaWorld’s excellent animal care staff should be commended for their efforts to rescue and care for Dennis during transport.”

There have also been sightings of other manatees along the Eastern Seaboard in recent weeks. On September 29, 2008, a manatee was reported in the warm water outflow area of the Brandon Shores Power Plant in Baltimore, Maryland. Another manatee sighting in that area was reported on October 10th. Additionally, a sighting of possibly two manatees was reported in the Middle River, near Baltimore, on October 1st. Further south, a manatee was sighted in Bogue Sound, near Atlantic Beach, North Carolina on October 8th. These recent sightings suggest that there are at least several manatees in coastal waters north of Florida at this time.

Residents of Maryland, North Carolina, or any eastern state north of Florida should report manatee sightings to their local wildlife officials. Those local officials should then contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Jacksonville, Florida at 904-731-3079. “Citizens should be prepared to report the number of manatees observed; the physical location of the manatees, with reference to any nearby landmarks; and a general description of the size and behavior of the manatee," said Dr. Katie Tripp, Director of Science and Conservation for Save the Manatee Club. "If possible, photos of the manatees, particularly clear photos of any scars or injuries, should be taken as these photos help biologists identify individual manatees.” Citizens can also contact Save the Manatee Club with questions about unusual sightings by calling 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) or e-mailing education@savethemanatee.org. Manatees are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Please do not feed or touch manatees or give them water.

In recent years, manatees have been sighted during summer months in states including North Carolina, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Dennis was the northernmost manatee ever reported. In 1994, a manatee named Chessie gained national attention after being sighted in the Chesapeake Bay. Save the Manatee Club helped fund Chessie’s rescue and transport back to Florida in the autumn of 1994 and the Club has consistently been involved in manatee rescue and rehabilitation efforts over the years.

“These recent sightings highlight the importance of public involvement in locating wayward manatees and coordinating with authorities in an effort to ensure timely rescues of this endangered marine mammal,” added Tripp.

While manatees can typically locate sufficiently warm water and abundant food supplies in northern waters during the summer, once waters begin to cool in the autumn, manatees must return south to Florida. As a subtropical species, manatees cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to water temperatures below 68 °F. Along the east coast of the United States, water temperatures are dropping and approaching or surpassing this critical threshold. Younger, juvenile manatees that wander north are particularly susceptible to these colder temperatures because of their smaller body size. Such manatees may also be naïve and less likely to successfully find their way back to Florida. Manatees that have not returned to Florida waters by this time of year are at risk from developing cold stress syndrome, which is a potentially fatal condition. In 2008, 19 manatees have died so far from cold stress, including Dennis, whose cause of death has preliminarily been attributed to cold stress. Through October 12th, a total of 264 manatees have died from a variety of causes, including 71 watercraft fatalities.

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Save the Manatee Club was established in 1981 by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former U.S. Senator and Florida Governor, Bob Graham, to protect manatees and their aquatic habitat for future generations. Today, it is the world’s leading manatee conservation organization. The Club is a membership-based, national nonprofit organization that promotes public awareness and education; sponsors local and international scientific research and rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts; advocates for the conservation of manatees and their essential habitat based on the best available scientific data; and takes legal action when necessary.


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