South Carolina’s Manatees: Facts About the Gentle ‘Sea Cows’ in Lowcountry Waters

LOWCOUNTRY, S.C. — Dolphins may be the most common marine mammals spotted along South Carolina’s coast, but another gentle giant also calls these waters home during the warmer months: the manatee.

Known as “sea cows” for their slow and grazing nature, manatees can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh close to a ton. While they may appear cumbersome, wildlife experts say they’re fascinating creatures that deserve attention and care.

Unique Traits of Manatees

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), manatees have several unusual traits:

• They cannot turn their heads and instead move their entire bodies to look around.
• They typically have 3–4 toenails, linking them to their closest relatives — elephants.
• Mothers nurse calves from mammary glands beneath their flippers, making it appear as if the calf is feeding from the armpit.
• Calves stay with mothers for 1–2 years before reaching maturity at about 5 years old.

In the wild, manatees can live up to 20 years, with some living even longer under human care.

Feeding and Habitat

Manatees spend up to eight hours a day grazing, consuming about 10% of their body weight in aquatic plants such as hydrilla, spartina, and sea lettuce.

They prefer shallow waters less than 20 feet deep, especially areas with sunlight that support plant growth. In South Carolina, sightings have been reported as far inland as Lake Marion.

Threats to Manatees

The greatest danger manatees face isn’t from natural predators, but from humans. Boat strikes are the leading cause of injury and death. Limited vegetation and starvation also pose risks when food sources are disrupted.

Wildlife officials recommend:

• Going slow in shallow waters.
• Wearing polarized glasses to spot manatees.
• Watching for water swirls (known as “footprints”) or nostrils breaking the surface.

Some manatees carry satellite tags used by researchers in Florida to monitor migration patterns, helping SCDNR prepare for their seasonal visits.

Protecting the ‘Sea Cows’

Manatees typically migrate north from Florida during warmer months. To help them survive, officials urge residents and boaters to stay alert and report sightings to SCDNR.

“We’re sharing the waterways with these beautiful creatures,” said Michelle Pate, SCDNR’s Sea Turtle & Manatee Program Coordinator. “Let’s do the best we can to help them thrive and survive.”

Have you spotted a manatee in South Carolina waters this year? Share your experience in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.