News

Alabama/DISL Adoption Update

By Dr. Ruth Carmichael, Director, DISL, & Sophia Corde, PhD Student, Univ. of South Alabama and DISL

Greetings from the northern Gulf! During this year’s warm season, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network (DISL/MSN) has documented more than 200 manatee sightings—primarily in Alabama waters but also including the Florida Panhandle, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Several groups of more than eight manatees were observed feeding, socializing, and traveling through local waterways.

Among the documented sightings was a known manatee, Bartlett, who was seen in both Mobile Bay and Orange Beach, Alabama. According to records from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Bartlett was first documented in Tampa Bay, Florida, in 2010, when he was rescued for cold stress. Bartlett has been observed in Alabama waters every year since 2021.

Save the Manatee Club (SMC) adoptees Bama and Clog were not reported this summer, but we’re keeping a close lookout for them and continue to track reported sightings!

Part of our mission at DISL/MSN is to raise awareness for manatees that use the region year-round and to promote the safe sharing of our local waterways. In partnership with SMC, we distribute manatee awareness dock signs, flyers, magnets, and boat decals to marinas, dive shops, eco-tour groups, and other waterfront businesses.

If you are located in the northern Gulf and would like educational materials or to assist our network, please contact us at manatee@disl.org or 1-866-493-5803. Your reports help us reduce risks to manatees and support the long-term monitoring of this growing Gulf Coast population.