If you spot a sick, injured, or orphaned manatee, or a manatee being harassed, you should immediately report it. Please also report dead manatees or a manatee wearing a “tag” or tracking device.

How to Get Help for Manatees

Florida:

Call 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). You can also send a text message or email to Tip@MyFWC.com or use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio. You can also download the free FWC Reporter app on your smartphone or tablet.

Maryland, North Carolina, or any eastern state north of Florida:

Click the following link to get information on how to report manatees to your local wildlife officials.

Alabama and Mississippi:

Call Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network at 1-866-493-5803.

Louisiana:

Call the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at 1-800-442-2511.

Texas:

Call the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1-800-9-MAMMAL (800-962-6625).

Please give dispatchers the exact location of the manatee.

If the manatee appears injured, please call right away. If injuries are not obvious, but you still suspect the manatee may be injured, try to determine the number of times the manatee surfaces to breathe during a five minute period before calling. Since manatees can stay submerged for up to 15 minutes at a time, frequent surfacing could be indicative of an injury. Please call: