manatees (representative image)

This summer, an unusual visitor has been making waves along the Texas coast: the Florida manatee. Multiple sightings have been reported from Galveston to Port Mansfield, with some of the gentle giants lingering in busy harbours and marinas to drink from freshwater outflows. As temperatures soar, wildlife officials say the warm Gulf waters are drawing these rare marine mammals farther west than usual, but their presence in high-traffic boating areas is raising concerns. The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) has issued warnings to boaters and is asking the public to report sightings while avoiding actions that could put the animals at greater risk, according to reports by the Houston Chronicle and Midland Reporter-Telegram, as well as information from TMMSN’s research program.Why manatees are in Texas nowFlorida, or West Indian, manatees are federally protected as a threatened species under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They spend the winter in Florida’s warm springs and coastal waters, then migrate through the Gulf of Mexico during the summer, occasionally reaching Texas, Louisiana and even Mexico.“Texas is HOT and manatees are taking advantage of this warm water to expand their summer travels,” TMMSN wrote in a recent alert. The animals are drawn not only by temperature but also by freshwater sources. Manatees need to drink fresh water regularly, and along the Texas coast they often seek out freshwater outflows from marinas, boat ramps and industrial facilities.Sightings from Galveston to Port MansfieldTMMSN, a nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates and monitors marine mammals along the Texas coast, said it is currently tracking a number of recent manatee sightings from Galveston to Port Mansfield. Many have been observed drinking from freshwater outflows and spending time in busy harbours or marinas, where boat traffic can put them at risk.On July 28, the Port Aransas South Jetty shared a video of a manatee spotted at various times in the Port Aransas harbour. The clip shows the animal drinking freshwater beside a boat, earning it the nickname “plus-sized mermaid” from one commenter. While the sighting delighted locals, it also underscored how closely manatees are now sharing space with recreational and commercial vessels.Why marinas are both a lure and a danger

manatees

For manatees, marinas and boat ramps can be ideal rest stops: they offer calm water, shade from docks and, crucially, access to freshwater. But these same areas are often crowded with boats, jet skis and other watercraft moving at speed.Boat strikes remain one of the biggest threats to Florida manatees, along with habitat loss and starvation caused by pollution. Manatees are large, heavy and slow-moving, yet they can be surprisingly difficult to spot in the water, especially in choppy or murky conditions. When they linger in busy harbors, the risk of collision rises sharply.That reality was highlighted about a year ago, when a manatee near the Port Aransas ferry landings temporarily halted a $64 million project to upgrade ferry ramps and landings on the Mustang Island side of the channel. The incident showed how even routine coastal infrastructure work can be complicated by the presence of these protected animals.What officials are asking boaters and the public to doTMMSN and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are urging boaters to watch for manatees, especially in areas where freshwater outflows are known to attract them. Simple steps can make a big difference: Slow down in marinas, channels and near freshwater discharges; keep a sharp lookout for large, dark shapes just below the surface; and give manatees plenty of space and avoid chasing or crowding them.The network is also asking the public to report every manatee sighting. People can call TMMSN at 1-800-9MAMMAL (1-800-962-6625) or visit DolphinRescue.org to log live sightings, injured manatees or dead animals. Photos taken from a safe distance can help researchers identify individual animals, particularly those with distinctive scars.Don’t offer freshwater, let them find it naturallyOne of the most important, and counterintuitive, requests from TMMSN is this: do not intentionally provide freshwater to manatees with hoses or other sources.“You can help keep them safe during their Texas stay by never intentionally providing fresh water for manatees via hoses or other sources,” the organisation advises. “It can make them more susceptible to injury from boats and encourage the manatees to stay in the areas they have migrated to, which can become a serious problem for their health.”When manatees become accustomed to easy freshwater at busy marinas, they may linger longer in high-risk zones instead of moving on to safer, more natural areas. Over time, that behaviour can increase their exposure to boat strikes, entanglement and other human-related threats.Tracking manatees to protect themTo better understand manatee presence, migration and well-being in Texas, TMMSN maintains a sighting database that documents locations and movement patterns of West Indian manatees in state waters. This long-term dataset helps researchers assess health trends, identify critical habitats and inform conservation management.TMMSN’s research program, which has operated along the Texas coast since 1980, also collects data and biological samples from stranded marine mammals, conducts photographic identification surveys and publishes findings to advance marine mammal science. Manatee documentation is one piece of a broader effort that includes bottlenose dolphin abundance estimates, habitat-use studies and assessments of human-induced injury or mortality.A rare but recurring summer phenomenonManatee sightings in Texas are uncommon but not unprecedented. Every summer, a small number of individuals wander into state waters as they follow warm currents and search for food and freshwater. Most move on after a few days or weeks, but some linger longer, especially if they find reliable freshwater sources and sheltered areas.For coastal residents and visitors, a manatee sighting is a special event, a chance to see one of the ocean’s most iconic and gentle mammals up close. But it also comes with responsibility. By slowing down, staying alert and reporting sightings, Texans can help ensure that these rare summer visitors leave the coast as safely as they arrived.