IN FLORIDA
If you are at all concerned that a manatee may be sick, injured, entangled, or orphaned, or if you see a manatee that is being harassed or wearing a “tag” or tracking device, please immediately report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline by calling 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC).
Alabama | Connecticut | Delaware | Georgia | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Mississippi | New York/New Jersey | North Carolina | Rhode Island | South Carolina | Texas | Virginia
What to do if you spot a sick or injured manatee
- Immediately call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline. An FWC biologist will give you instructions on what to do next.
- If possible, keep the manatee in your line of sight, but remember keep your distance. If the animal leaves the area, take note of the direction.
- If possible, take a photo/video of the animal without disturbing the manatee.
Signs that a manatee may be in distress
- Floating high in the water, unable to swim down
- Fresh, open wounds (pink/red)
- Rapid breathing – breathing every minute or so
- White lesions, emaciation (thin, visible ribs/skull), lethargic
- Tidally stranded (do not attempt to push the manatee back into the water or move it yourself)
- Lone, orphan calf (manatee less than five feet in length)
- Entanglement
Also call if:
- You see anyone harassing a manatee.
- You see boaters speeding in a protected area.
- You see a dead manatee. By doing a necropsy, scientists can sometimes determine the cause of death and better understand the dangers to manatees.
- You see a manatee tagged with a radio or satellite transmitter. Sightings of tagged manatees help provide researchers with information that can be used to protect manatees and their habitat. However, do not attempt to remove the transmitter. It is designed to come off if it becomes entangled, so the animal won’t be trapped.
Outside of florida
Please report any manatee sightings outside of Florida to the appropriate agency or rescue organization for your state.

Alabama (and Mississippi)
Call Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network (DISL MSN): 1-866-493-5803 to report injured manatees. To report a sighting, submit DISL’s manatee sighting form.
Connecticut
Call the Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Center hotline: 1-860-572-5955 x107.
Delaware
Call the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR) hotline: 302-228-5029.
Georgia
Call the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Conservation Section coastal office: 1-800-2-SAVE-ME (1-800-272-8363) or 1-800-241-4113 after hours or on weekends.
Louisiana
Call the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries hotline: 1-800-442-2511.
Maryland
Call the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Response hotline: 1-800-628-9944.

Massachusetts
Call the International Fund for Animal Welfare Marine Mammal Rescue hotline: 508-743-9548.
Mississippi
Call Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network (DISL MSN): 1-866-493-5803 to report injured manatees. To report a sighting, submit DISL’s manatee sighting form.
New York/New Jersey
Call the Marine Mammal Stranding Center hotline: 1-609-266-0538.
North Carolina
Call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network of North Carolina Central Coast hotline: 1-252-241-5119.
Rhode Island
Call the State of Rhode Island’s DEM Environmental Law Enforcement: 1-401-222-3070.
South Carolina
Call the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources hotline: 1-800-922-5431 to report injured manatees. To report manatee sightings, submit the SCDNR manatee sighting form.
Texas
Call the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline: 1-800-9MAMMAL (1-800-962-6625).
Virginia
Call the Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Response Team hotline: 1-757-385-7575.
Your calls make a difference
Release of Annie and Her Calf Naui
Thank you to everyone who helped with the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Annie and Naui: ZooTampa at Lowry Park, SeaWorld Orlando, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Sea to Shore Alliance, Blue Spring State Park, and the Florida Park Service. Save the Manatee Club staff and volunteers also helped at the rescue and release. (Video by Cora Berchem, SMC.)