Celebrate National Manatee Appreciation Day

In honor of National Manatee Appreciation Day on March 25, we’re looking back at an incredible wildlife rescue that took place right here at Palmetto Dunes Resort on Hilton Head Island. The effort brought together an impressive team from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, SeaWorld, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, and Palmetto Dunes’ own golf course staff, working together to safely rescue a stranded manatee in 2019.

Officials reported that the female manatee weighed 856 pounds and measured 8.6 feet long. She had become trapped inside the enclosed Palmetto Dunes lagoon system on November 1, 2019, and was discovered with minor skin abrasions and slightly underweight. For comparison, the average adult manatee typically grows to about 10 feet in length and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. After the successful rescue, the Palmetto Dunes lagoon manatee was transported to SeaWorld Orlando where she received rehabilitation and care.

“In Palmetto Dunes, we strive to maintain the health of our waterways and all wildlife that inhabit them,” said former Andrew Schumacher, CEO of the Palmetto Dunes Property Owners Association. “When we found the manatee had navigated into our lagoon system and was not able to find its way back to the ocean, we immediately contacted DNR for assistance. We were fortunate that the rescue teams were able to quickly respond and rescue the manatee.”

Manatees, often called sea cows, are gentle marine mammals that live in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal waters. They are a migratory species, gathering primarily in Florida during the winter months when waters are warmer. In the summer, however, manatees often travel north and are commonly spotted along the coasts of Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, including areas around Hilton Head Island.

If you ever see a stranded or injured manatee or other marine mammal in South Carolina or around Palmetto Dunes Resort, reporting it quickly is the best way to ensure trained wildlife professionals can respond. Please contact the South Carolina Stranding Hotline at 800-922-5431 so responders and scientists can take the appropriate action.

For the safety of both people and wildlife, always keep a minimum distance of 50 yards (150 feet) from any stranded marine mammal and make sure people and pets stay well back. Observing wildlife responsibly helps protect Hilton Head Island’s unique coastal ecosystem and ensures these incredible animals can continue to thrive for generations to come.