Don't call 911 when you spot sex-mad mating manatees, warn sheriffs

03 August 2023 , 01:18

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Florida residents have been calling 911 after spotting mating manatees, which sheriffs warn not to do (Image: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)

If you're walking along a Florida beach and see a clump of manatees extremely close to shore, don't freak out, and DON'T call 911. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, based in Pinellas County, which is just outside of Tampa, recently posted to its Facebook page urging residents to think twice before calling the emergency hotline to report "distressed" manatees.

It's their mating season, the post says, and the animals frequently mate in herds. "If you see this, no you didn't," the department captioned a Facebook reel of a herd of the aquatic beasts having sex. "We get calls all the time from citizens when they see this, believing the manatees are in distress."

Manatees frequently mate in herds, and the behaviour is most common during the summer months (Getty Images)

But the sheriffs assure everyone that they are not, in fact distressed. "They are more than fine," the caption continues. "Manatees actually mate in herds lie these and often, they are near the shore."

While its most common for the mammals to mate during the summer months, they also mate all year long. "If you see this, there's no need to call," the video, which has Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" playing in the background, states. "They are a-okay!"

They also reminded the public that it's illegal to disturb the animals, intentionally or negligently. "To annoy, molest, harass or disturb any manatee" is against the law, the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978 Act states.

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It's also illegal to disturb the animals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Doing so is also dangerous, both for humans and the manatees. While mating, the marine mammals can get aggressive and attack, leading to injuries.

They often swim around and move with "aggressive twists and turns" than can bowl over human observers who get too close, tour company Swimming with the Manatees states on its website.

Disturbing the animals can also mess up their mating process and result in fewer calves for the species, which is already endangered, the tour company said.

A Facebook video posted by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office shows manatee mating behaviour (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)

The warning from the Florida sheriff's office comes a few short months after a manatee died at a Florida lab and aquarium. Hugh, a 38-year-old manatee, died of a ripped colon after heightened, extreme sexual activity with his larger brother Buffet.

The males frequently copulated, according to a statement from Mote Marine Aquarium & Laboratory, and it led to the smaller cow dying.

"Hugh and Buffett engaged in natural, yet increased, mating behaviour observed and documented in manatees both in managed care and in the wild," the company said in a statement. "This was the first time such heightened mating behaviour was witnessed between the two manatees."

Jeremiah Hassel