VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach City Government is asking residents to report manatee sightings to the Virginia Aquarium's Stranding Response Team.
On Wednesday, Bay Venture Boat Rentals posted a video on their Facebook page of a special visitor that made its way to a dock just to take a drink of water.
The City of Virginia Beach said in a Facebook post that manatees occasionally visit the area in warmer weather. If someone happens to spot one, they are asked to contact the Virginia Aquarium's Stranding Response Team at 757-385-7575 to report its location.
The City also gave a list of dos and don't when it comes to manatees:
- DO: As with all wildlife, please observe from a distance.
- DON'T: Feed them or give them water. If they learn they'll get food or water easily from people near boats, then they'll hang out near people and boats. That creates problems because vessel strikes are the #1 cause of manatee deaths. We also don't want them to overstay their seasonal welcome. They don't tolerate cold well and need to head back south to warmer water once temperatures here begin to drop. If they have other reasons keeping them here - like easy food and water, they're more likely to make a bad decision and even a slight delay can harm them.
- DO: Avoid activities such as excessive noise, splashing or similar actions that could disturb manatees.
- DO: If practical, avoid boating in areas where manatees have been reported. If you encounter a manatee, operate boats at idle and slow speed and move away from the animal.
- DON'T: Attempt to rescue a manatee you believe to be in distress; call the Stranding Response Team (757-385-7575)
- DON'T: Ride, chase, poke or surround manatee. Also, do not separate a mother and calf or an individual from a group.
Alexander Costides, a stranding response coordinator with the Virginia Aquarium said we should be excited about manatees, but with that comes responsibility.
You should avoid feeding them if you can.
“The number one cause of human-related mortality in manatees is vessel interaction and vessel strikes from ships or recreational vessels,” said Costides. “If they get used to an area with fresh water, and with some of those enticing treats, they won’t take the environment cues to leave when it’s time to cool off, and that's pretty much a death sentence."
Click here for more information about manatees.