Manatees Mating In Herds Aren’t In Distress: Pinellas County Sheriff

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office warned beachgoers that herds of manatees close to the shore aren’t in distress; they’re actually mating.

“If you see this, don’t call us,” the agency wrote in a social media post sharing a video of the animals. “They are more than fine. It’s mating season.” (Watch a video of manatee herds from the PSCO here.)

While manatees mate throughout the year, the mating herds are usually seen along the shores during summer months, PSCO said.

The sheriff’s office said that it gets “calls all the time from citizens believing the manatees are in distress.”

The agency also reminded people that they should stay away from the animals if they encounter them in the water.

“Remember touching or disturbing manatees is not only illegal but can also be very dangerous,” the sheriff’s office said.