Manatee sightings break SC record. Here’s how many were spotted & where
South Carolina waters are filled with wildlife, but one gentle giant has been drawing more attention than usual this year.
The Florida manatee.
Kelly Lambert, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources manatee response coordinator, confirmed a record-breaking 245 reported sightings in 2025 as of Oct. 16, which outpaced all previous years.
While not all reports represent individual animals (some manatees are likely spotted multiple times), the high volume reflects both increased manatee activity and growing public awareness.
A seasonal visitor to the Palmetto State
Manatees begin arriving in South Carolina around May, typically traveling north from Florida as coastal waters warm. These massive marine mammals – some weighing over a ton and growing up to 13 feet long – favor sheltered, shallow areas such as marinas, inlets and estuaries.
Manatees can live in salt and fresh water, so these areas provide ideal conditions and are easy-to-spot locations for observers hoping to catch a glimpse.
In Beaufort County, Lambert noted that manatees are often spotted in Broad Creek, Skull Creek, Broad River, Shelter Cove Marina and Harbour Town Marina. They have also been seen in the Pee Dee region, with a June sighting in Murrells Inlet.
They remain in South Carolina waters through the summer and early fall, but by late October and November, they begin their southward migration back to Florida, where the water stays above their survival threshold of 68 degrees.
While South Carolina’s waters typically stay warmer into fall, Lambert said that late November or December would be an odd and “problematic” time to see one.
“If a manatee stays behind, it may have found a warm water outfall that’s preventing them from swimming,” she said.
If you spot a manatee in South Carolina waters by December, contact the SCDNR hotline at 1-800-922-5431.
How the sighting data works
The manatee sightings submitted through SCDNR don’t always indicate unique individual manatees. Rather, the data includes any verified report, including those from this year and older sightings that people are rediscovering in old photos or messages.
Folks who spot a manatee can submit a photo and the location of the sighting to the SCDNR, which then uses that data to keep track of their activity in South Carolina.
“It’s not that there are 245 different manatees that have been seen this year,” Lambert said. “It’s just those reports coming in, so it’s hard to give an exact number, but the human sighting data is helpful when putting all the pieces of their habits together.”
The data that SCDNR collects is also shared with Florida-based partners, who lead efforts in tracking, tagging and studying manatees across the Southeast.
“We rely on the community,” Lambert said. “It’s a team effort, and the more eyes we have on the water, the better our data becomes.”
Manatees in South Carolina
Manatees have been observed in South Carolina since at least the 1850s, but the state only hosts a small fraction of the estimated 6,600 manatees in the United States. Most remain in Florida year-round, but some make seasonal journeys up to the Palmetto State coast.
How to report a sighting
If you’re lucky enough to spot a manatee in South Carolina waters within the next month, you should:
- Stay at a safe distance: Do not attempt to touch, feed, or interact with the animal.
- Snap a photo (if possible) from afar – This helps with identification and verification.
- Submit a sighting using the SCDNR Manatee Sighting Form.
If you spot a manatee by December or see an injured or distressed manatee, contact the SCDNR hotline at 1-800-922-5431.
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM.
