ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — A manatee found dead in Orange Beach over the weekend is suspected to have been killed by a boat strike, and a second manatee from the same herd was seriously injured in a related encounter, according to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL). The back-to-back injuries have prompted researchers to renew their call for boater awareness on Alabama’s waterways.
A resident reported the animal to DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network on Sunday, Aug. 16. It was recovered by the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network (ALMMSN), with support from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, on the southern shore of Wolf Bay, south of the Intracoastal Waterway.
A necropsy at the DISL Marine Mammal Research Center revealed signs of acute trauma consistent with a watercraft strike. The roughly 1,200-pound manatee had deep propeller lacerations across its back and right side that officials believe caused its death.
“It was very clear that it had been hit by a vessel,” said Mackenzie Russell, DISL’s Stranding Programs Manager. “Other signs of internal injury and blood loss point to a boat strike as the cause of death. Every animal that is killed, especially in some sort of human-caused tragedy like this, it really is tough.”
Both manatees struck during a mating herd
Officials believe both manatees were struck while part of what’s known as a mating herd, in which multiple male manatees crowd around and compete for a single female. Russell said it may look chaotic in the water, but it’s a normal part of manatee life.
“It’s very loud. It’s a lot of splashing,” Russell said, describing the scene. “Up to 12 — you know, 2,000-pound animals — sloshing around and acting crazy.”
Dr. Ruth Carmichael, Director of DISL/MSN and ALMMSN, said a manatee injured by a boat was reported to the Manatee Sighting Network the day before the dead manatee was found, and both boat-struck animals were part of the same mating herd in the Intracoastal Waterway. “When mating, manatees form herds that have difficulty evading fast-moving vessels,” Carmichael said. “Each manatee death is significant to the population, and the loss of an otherwise healthy reproductive animal is truly unfortunate.”
Russell echoed that concern. “Those mating herds are a vulnerable time for them,” she said. “Their ability to move out of the way is drastically reduced. We had two affected animals in the same mating herd by vessels — that’s a pretty big deal. Losing one reproductively active animal in a population is a really big deal, especially for manatees, when their population is still threatened.”
A rising trend
Boat-related manatee deaths are increasing in Alabama. This case marks the sixth confirmed boat strike death in Alabama waters since 2015, before which no watercraft-related manatee deaths had been recorded in the state. Researchers have also documented a corresponding rise in manatee sightings and strandings in recent years.
Boaters urged to slow down and give manatees space
DISL/MSN is urging boaters throughout Baldwin County and the northern Gulf Coast to slow down, stay alert and give manatees plenty of room, particularly in rivers, bays and deltas where shallow water and abundant vegetation attract them.
“We ask for at least 100 to 150 feet,” Russell said of the distance boaters should keep once a manatee is spotted.
Officials also recommend wearing polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees below the surface and designating someone on board to keep watch for the animals nearby.
“Just be aware,” Russell said. “Be aware that we have manatees in our area. They do form mating herds. Give them distance; be prepared. Drive your boat safely.”
Boater safety tips
- Keep at least 100 to 150 feet from manatees when possible, and designate a spotter on your boat.
- Wear polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees beneath the surface.
- Report injured or distressed manatees immediately to the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network: 1-877-WHALE-HELP (1-877-942-5343).
- Report all manatee sightings, especially injured ones, to DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network at 1-866-493-5803. For a threatened population, every manatee matters.