Manatee Sightings Sought Along North Carolina Coast
Coastal residents who spot a live manatee are asked to call the area hotline or complete the online form.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Aquariums
Live Poll
Would you report a manatee sighting on the North Carolina coast to authorities?
North Carolina Aquariums is asking the public to report live manatee sightings along the state's coast. Florida manatees are found on North Carolina's coast from spring through fall, and the agency wants reports to track them.
Why it matters
As water temperatures drop in fall, manatees that do not migrate back to Florida can develop cold stress syndrome, which is why sighting reports matter for North Carolina residents who spend time on the coast. Over the past 32 years, 17 dead manatee strandings have been recorded in North Carolina, most attributed to cold stress.
North Carolina Aquariums has asked the public to report manatee sightings on the coast. Over the past 32 years, 17 dead manatee strandings have been recorded in the state, and most were linked to cold stress.
The players
North Carolina Aquariums
A state-run network of aquariums that educates the public about the state's marine life and coastal species.
The details
Members of the public can report a live manatee sighting by calling an area hotline and completing an online form. Florida manatees are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and they face threats including harmful algal bloom toxins, habitat loss from nutrient runoff, boat strikes, and entanglement in fishing gear. As temperatures fall, the water becomes too cold for manatees, and those that do not migrate back to Florida may develop cold stress syndrome.
Timeline
Florida manatees are found on North Carolina's coast from spring through fall.
North Carolina Aquariums publicized its request for manatee sighting reports on November 2, 2026.
The Home Front
Manatee monitoring on the North Carolina coast connects to the broader federal protection framework for Florida manatees under the Endangered Species Act. Coastal homeowners and renters near the water see these reporting efforts as part of the regional wildlife-management picture.
If you live on or visit the North Carolina coast from spring through fall, you can report a live manatee sighting through the area hotline or the agency's online form. Keep a safe distance from any manatee you see and avoid feeding or touching it.
The takeaway
Reporting a manatee sighting helps the state track a federally protected species along its coast. Keep the agency hotline number handy during the warmer months, when manatees are present.
Further reading
For more on the species and the work of these facilities, explore our Aquariums coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Witn.
Live Poll
Would you report a manatee sighting on the North Carolina coast to authorities?
