Manatee Spotted In Upper Chesapeake Bay
Monday, July 20, 2009
John Patti
Manatee swimming in Havre de Grace (Photo by Officer Marcus Rodriguez of Havre de Grace Police)
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q144/Basscat7/31712-Manateeinwaterwithperson.jpg)
The Upper Bay has a special summer visitor!
The National Aquarium's marine animal rescue team has confirmed a manatee sighting in Havre de Grace over the weekend.
The aquarium and the Coast Guard will keep tabs on the animal to ensure its safety and monitor its movements.
The Aquarium is also working with Federal officials in Florida to identify the animal – because of unique scarring on its tail, Federal officials may be able to recognize the animal and its usual locale in southern waters.
The aquarium wants to bring this to your attention to ask that local boaters and others around that part of the Bay be aware that the animal is in the vicinity and to use common sense practices to keep themselves and the manatee safe.
The National Aquarium says that people should slow down to avoid striking the manatee, boaters should observe no wake signs, and be aware when traveling by boat in inlets and around shallows.
Don't approach the manatee. It is a violation of Federal law to touch, disturb or interact with marine mammals. This includes feeding them – no feeding! Keep at least a 50 foot distance. This is for human safety as well - manatees are not aggressive but they are wild animals, not tamed or conditioned to human interaction.
Officials say that manatees are infrequent visitors to the Chesapeake Bay but it's not unheard of to see them here in search of food once the water is warm enough for their liking. Manatees are vegetarians that feed on sea grass. They travel alone, and are among the few marine mammals that can tolerate both salt or fresh water.
If people observe this manatee or any other marine mammal stranded somewhere, they should not touch the animal and call the Maryland Natural Resources Police Stranding Hotline: 1-800-628-9944