Manatees in South Carolina - Sightings and Strandings

Observe a live healthy manatee in South Carolina waters? Submit your sighting through our online manatee sighting form. Manatees are catalogued according to the presence and location of scar patterns are their body. With your help we can use this information to identify individual manatees. Upload photos and/or videos using the form. If video files are too large to upload, email them to manatee@dnr.sc.gov or contact us at 843-953-9015.

Examples of what you may see when encountering a manatee:

Manatee “footprint” or circular swirls of water created from swimming

Manatee surfacing to breathe air. Oftentimes, you will just see a snout with 2 nostrils breaking the surface. Swirls of muddy water may likely surround them.

You may encounter a manatee with a satellite tag that resembles a crab pot buoy. Do not attempt to remove. These tags include a padded belt around the base of the tail, a tether and a floating satellite tag which provides real time data to biologists tracking the animal. The equipment does not hinder the manatee from diving or swimming. It is designed with mechanisms to break loose if it gets caught on any obstruction. All satellite tags are property of Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and should not be tampered with. Please report any sightings of tagged manatees.

Manatees in need of help (stranding)

To report a dead or injured manatee in South Carolina please contact the SCDNR at 1-800-922-5431.

If you come across a stranded manatee here are some things to keep in mind:

  1. Call the SCDNR Wildlife Hotline 1-800-922-5431 ASAP, time is of the essence when dealing with tides, available light conditions and coordinating transport for a large animal.
  2. Keep a distance from the animal as to not cause any more stress to the animal and stay out of its line of sight. Wild animals do not recognize our presence as help; they regard us as a threat.
  3. Capture photos and videos from a distance to provide initial insight as to why an animal has stranded and its condition. Note any injuries or scars visible.
  4. If an animal has become stranded, depending on its health condition, it may not be in the animals' best interest to return to the water. Further care at a rehabilitation center may be necessary.
  5. Manatees may strand in shallow areas but do not need care. SCDNR Biologists will evaluate to determine if medical care is necessary or if the animal can wait on a rising tide to make it buoyant again.
  6. Keep in mind the time of year a stranding occurs. SCDNR Biologists may advise the use of various methods to prevent more sun exposure, help to keep the animal damp, cool or warm, depending on environmental conditions. Contact SCDNR before attempting to approach and administer help to a wild animal.