Manatee Spotted in Rhode Island Pond, Hundreds of Miles From Native Florida Waters

A Rhode Island pond had an unusual visitor this week: a manatee.

Officials in Rhode Island are monitoring the area of Quonochontaug Pong in Charleston after a manatee was spotted in the water, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

The pond connects to the Atlantic Ocean, an area inhabited by sea creatures, but it is relatively uncommon for manatees to be found so far north.

The state’s Department of Environmental Management said it has been in contact with the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and the federal Fish and Wildlife Service and is monitoring the creature.

Manatees typically live around the coast of Florida, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. During the summer, however, the creatures are known to expand their range and travel north, sometimes being spotted in Massachusetts, and sometimes seen as far west as Texas, the service said. 

The manatee likely traveled nearly 1,000 nautical miles to end up in the pond.

The last time a manatee was spotted in New England was in 2016 when one was seen off the coast of Cape Cod, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

The department recommends people keep a safe distance from any manatees they see and urges boaters to be on the lookout to reduce the chances of colliding with the animals, which are protected by the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.