The gentle and curious “sea cow” is one of Florida’s iconic animals, and one of the country’s most imperiled marine creatures, with a population estimated at only 5,000. While manatees reside year-round in the coastal waters of Florida, in warm months they can be found all along the Gulf Coast, and are repeatedly sighted in coastal Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana in summer. In addition to the hazards posed by boats, cold weather, habitat loss, discarded fishing gear and red tides, manatees in the Gulf are now faced with a new threat: oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.
There is little scientific information about the impacts of oil on manatees. But it is likely that oil would irritate their mucous membranes and oil vapors could inflame their lungs. Prolonged exposure could cause skin lesions, infections and organ dysfunction. Manatee calves, which have thinner skin and less fat, are at greater risk from oil exposure.
Wildlife & Wild Places
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