Local manatees typically migrate from the Alabama coast during the winter months. Some travel so far up streams and other bodies of water that they get caught in the cold waters. If temperatures drop below 68 degrees for extended periods, manatees can suffer cold stress syndrome. This is similar to hypothermia, and while severe cases can kill manatees outright, even mild cases can make them more vulnerable to other threats, according to Defenders of Wildlife. They added that inflicted manatees display weeping sores on their skin, they start to lose weight and become thin and emaciated, their immune systems become weakened, making them more susceptible to disease and pollutants.

Dauphin Island Sea Lab experienced a manatee with those symptoms.  The outlook is promising but uncertain for a cold-stressed manatee sighted in Alabama earlier this week. The rescued manatee is currently rehabilitating in the temperature-controlled pools of SeaWorld Orlando’s critical care manatee rescue and rehabilitation facility. Cold stress is the leading cause of death for manatees in Alabama and nearby waters along the northern Gulf of Mexico, and rescue success is limited.

A local fisherman spotted the manatee in the Theodore Industrial Canal off Mobile Bay on Tuesday, December 17. Staff from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network (DISL/MSN) and the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network immediately responded to assess the animal’s condition, determining that an intervention was needed. Alabama partners worked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and other members of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) to quickly develop a rescue and transport plan to provide emergency assistance to the manatee and transport the animal to Florida for specialized care.

“The animal was skinny and had some skin discoloration that are signs of cold stress and was staying at the surface, not leaving the area, making rescue a good option,” said DISL/MSN Director Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael. “We are always concerned about cold-stress related mortality this time of year when water temperatures can be too cold for manatees to survive in Alabama.”

Personnel from DISL, FWC, USFWS, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division teamed up to capture the male manatee on December 19. The manatee was 215 centimeters or seven feet in length. The manatee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando with the help of partners from DISL, FWC, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. SeaWorld Orlando staff determined the animal was underweight for its size at only 450 pounds.

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“This rescue is a remarkable example of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and our dedicated rescue partners coming together to save a manatee in critical condition,” said Dr. Joseph Gaspard, Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld Orlando and Vice-Chair of the MRP. “Through swift collaboration and expertise, we were able to respond to an animal in need, demonstrating our commitment to protecting manatees in all U.S. waters. It’s an honor to work alongside such passionate organizations to give these animals a second chance at life in their natural habitat.”

DISL/MSN stresses the importance of reporting manatee sightings to the network year-round, especially during the winter when animals are at greater risk of becoming distressed and sick.

“In this case, rapid reporting allowed us to quickly assess the manatee and work with our partners to remove the animal from the area,” said Carmichael. “While we do not yet know the outcome for this animal, rapid response by all agencies was able to give this animal the best possible chance of survival. We are extremely lucky to have the leadership and support of partner agencies to make this possible,” continued Carmichael.

Please report manatee sightings as soon as possible to DISL/MSN by dialing 1-866-493-5803. If animals appear sick or distressed, choose the emergency reporting option when prompted. Non-emergency sightings can also be reported online at manatee.disl.edu.