NC Aquariums Asks Public to Report Manatee Sightings

Wildlife officials want coastal residents to report live Florida manatee sightings as cold weather approaches.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Aquariums

NC Aquariums Asks Public to Report Manatee Sightings

Live Poll

Would you report a manatee sighting on the North Carolina coast to authorities?

North Carolina Aquariums is asking the public to report manatee sightings along the state's coast. Florida manatees are typically found in North Carolina waters from spring through fall.

Why it matters

Over the past 32 years, 17 dead manatee strandings have been recorded in North Carolina, most attributed to cold stress. Manatees that do not migrate back to Florida as temperatures drop can develop cold stress syndrome.

North Carolina has recorded 17 dead manatee strandings over the past 32 years, most of them linked to cold stress. The source does not report how many live manatees are currently in state waters.

The players

NC Aquariums

NC Aquariums is the state-run aquarium system in North Carolina that operates public education and wildlife programs along the coast.

Florida manatee

The Florida manatee is a threatened subspecies listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, known for seasonal migration along the Atlantic coast.

The details

Members of the public are asked to call an area hotline and complete an online form to report a live manatee sighting. Threats to manatees include harmful algal bloom toxins, habitat loss from nutrient runoff, boat strikes, and entanglement in fishing gear.

Spring through fall: Florida manatees are found on North Carolina's coast.
Past 32 years: 17 dead manatee strandings recorded in North Carolina.
November 2, 2026: NC Aquariums publicized its request for manatee sighting reports.

Culture Shift

Florida manatees are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and their range extension into North Carolina waters reflects how a federally protected population is being tracked beyond its traditional Florida habitat. Public sighting reports now serve as a monitoring tool for this shifting distribution.

North Carolina residents and boaters along the coast can help by calling the area hotline or completing the online form if they spot a live manatee. Reporting sightings allows wildlife officials to track animals and respond if a manatee appears stressed or injured.

The takeaway

Reporting a manatee sighting promptly gives wildlife responders a better chance of helping a cold-stressed animal before it strands. Anyone who sees a manatee along the coast is encouraged to make the call.