By admin 
The Florida manatee, a gentle creature nicknamed “sea cow” for its slow pace and constant grazing, calls more than just Florida’s waters home.
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Manatees spend a good portion of the year in South Carolina waters while migrating north and enjoying aquatic vegetation during the summer, and you might be lucky enough to see one near the Grand Strand.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources asks residents and visitors to report manatee sightings to track their migration patterns. They are most commonly seen in tidal creeks and estuaries, but have been spotted from the shore swimming in the ocean and in freshwater rivers. A manatee was observed swimming in the Waccamaw River near the Conway marina in June.
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They can survive in both salt and fresh water sources and are typically in South Carolina waters from late spring to early fall each year. Manatees generally prefer waters 68 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, The Sun News previously reported.
Manatees are federally protected and illegal to touch, harass or harm. SCDNR provided these measures to safeguard the animals:
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- Be sure to view from a distance so as not to disturb the animal.
- Never provide fresh water (including a hose) or food to manatees — they do not need anything from humans. This trains the animal to approach humans, docks and boats which puts them at risk for boat strikes. In addition, it is illegal as this categorizes as harassment.
- Wear polarized sunglasses to better see manatees through the water’s surface.
- Check around your boat motor before you crank the engine. Manatees may be hanging around nearby.
- Report you manatee sighting to SCDNR’s database here.
- Know a good location to display a “Caution Manatees” sign? Reach out to [email protected] with your location suggestion.
- Any form of harassment to manatees is considered illegal by federal and state laws. Please call the SCDNR Wildlife Hotline at 1-800-922-5431 if you see any violations or an injured, deceased or sick animal.