New England is not exactly known for its manatees. But according to the spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Mike Healey, one of the sub-tropical specimens has traveled more than a thousand miles to Rhode Island. He says it’s the third confirmed manatee visitor in New England’s history.
“In a coastal salt pond, there’s the habitat to support it, because there’s plenty of grass–they’re called sea cows, they eat grass–the water temperature’s nice and warm right now. It’s a nice little place to hang out for a while,” he said.
The region’s last manatee sighting was about 7 years ago, in 2016. Before that, one was spotted near Falmouth, MA in 2006. The mammal, with its preference for warm, shallow waters, likely hugged the coastline the whole journey northward. Healey said that the long journey took its toll.
“This specimen is a little bit on the thin side, which makes sense, when you think he or she has traveled 1000 miles up the coast to get here,” he said.
It took the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management more than a day to alert the public, because Healey was concerned people would flock to Quonochontaug Pond. Manatees are endangered and protected under federal legislation, so any sort of contact with or disturbance of the mammal would be illegal. 
Although Healey says ocean temperatures in the Northeast are increasing, there’s not enough evidence to say that it’s climate change that is causing manatees to venture this far north. But there’s no doubt that at about 71 degrees Fahrenheit, Quonochontaug Pond is warm enough to keep the manatee happy… for now. According to Healey, manatees don’t tolerate temperatures below 68 degrees very well. According to historical data from NOAA, that is likely to happen in less than two weeks.
Healey says the state, the federal government and scientists from Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT are working together to monitor the manatee. They have not yet reached a decision on whether to rescue the manatee, especially in light of Hurricane Lee, which could reach New England on Saturday.
Manatees are no stranger to hurricanes, and they tend to weather storms in sheltered areas. Healey said he imagined the manatee would fare OK in the pond.
“Compared with the ocean, Quonnie Pond is kind of like a nice manageable bathtub,” he said.
Metro Desk Reporter Olivia Ebertz can be reached at olivia@thepublicsradio.org.
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