What You Can Do

Here are a few things that you can do to assist our research and help protect manatees in Mobile Bay and surrounding waters:

• Report manatee sightings to DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network via our online reporting system or toll-free at 1-866-493-5803.

• Spread the word! Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues to report manatee sightings to DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network.

• Give manatees space to ensure their safety. Do not do anything to alter manatees’ natural behavior. Do not entice, chase, feed, or touch them. The best rule of thumb is to stay at least 100 feet from manatees. According to federal law, any activity that changes manatees’ natural behavior is harassment and is illegal.

• Make a donation or shop our Manatee Sighting Network store! All proceeds support our local manatee education and outreach program.

• Adopt Alabama manatee Bama through our partnership with Save the Manatee Club! A portion of proceeds will be used to fund Manatee Sighting Network outreach and education efforts.

• Request a Manatee Sighting Network Dock Sign to identify manatee areas by emailing manatee@disl.org.

• Boat with caution. Boat strikes are the leading cause of human-related mortality among manatees.

• If you are in an area where manatees have been sighted in the past, please make way slowly and travel at no-wake speeds, if possible.

• Designate a manatee spotter and wear polarized sunglasses to increase the visibility of manatees in the water.

• If you hit a manatee please report it immediately.

Report other marine mammal strandings (dolphins and whales) immediately to our sister network, the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1-877-WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343).