How are researchers tracking manatee movements?

Researchers are utilizing tagged manatees and reports from the public to track the long-distance travels of these gentle giants.

What is causing the expansion of manatee habitats beyond Florida?

The warming of coastal waters due to climate change is allowing more manatees to find suitable environments outside of their traditional Florida homes.

Home / Environment / Manatees Spotted Across the Southeast: Surprising Sightings Beyond Florida

Manatees Spotted Across the Southeast: Surprising Sightings Beyond Florida

Q: Where have researchers found manatees outside of Florida?

Researchers have found manatees traveling to Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Mississippi, with some even reaching as far north as Massachusetts.

19 Oct, 2025

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Summary

Manatees found in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Mississippi
Researchers tag manatees to track their long-distance travels
Manatee sightings increasing in non-Florida states due to warming waters

Manatees Spotted Across the Southeast: Surprising Sightings Beyond Florida

As of October 2025, manatees, the gentle giants of the waterways, are no longer confined to their traditional Florida stronghold. According to recent research, these slow-moving mammals are now being spotted across the southeastern United States, with sightings reported in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Mississippi.

Utilizing tagged manatees and reports from the public, researchers have discovered that these marine mammals are capable of traveling long distances, often venturing far beyond their Florida homes. While manatees generally prefer to drift through the water and graze on aquatic plants at their own leisurely pace, they have demonstrated an ability to cover significant territory.