An injured manatee is swimming down SC coast. Here’s where it was spotted in Myrtle Beach

A University of North Carolina Wilmington research is monitoring the progress of an injured manatee whose dorsal fin was likely struck by a boat propeller.

Michael Tift, director of the school’s marine mammal stranding program, said the animal was most recently spotted near the Apache Pier in Myrtle Beach — a promising sign since it was first seen around Southport, North Carolina, nearly 80 miles to the north.

“One of the biggest concerns with boat strikes is the animals sort of are not able to swim, or they’re floating,” Tift said. “This animal was obviously swimming and made its way down to Myrtle Beach.”

But nature could be working against it. With a wintry snap looming that likely will bring freezing temperatures, “cold shock” is a threat.

The Wild Animal Health Fund estimates that 20% of all manatee deaths are due to their inability to find warmer waters during the coldest times of the year.

Tift said his team doesn’t know exactly where the injured animal is, but encourages anyone with information to call 800-922-5431.

“The best way to really help these animals is to spread the word if anyone ever sees a healthy, sick or deceased manatee to document it with photos and videos and give us a call immediately,” Tift said.

With their hangdog faces and large flippers, manatees are some of the sea’s most distinctive occupants. Reports of their presence along the South Carolina coast stretch back to as early as 1850, usually between May-November, when the gentle giants leave for warmer water.

Scientists estimate there are roughly 6,600 manatees living in the U.S., but it’s nearly impossible to know how many are in South Carolina at a given time.

Nearly 900 were reported to state wildlife officials between 1996 and 2003, according to the agency.

“Unfortunately, in our productive but murky, coastal waters, we don’t see much more than the head of a manatee,” S.C. DNR states on its website. “This is further complicated by the fact that in our marine environment, manatees support an extensive growth of organisms on their backs, which obscures the propeller scars that are so frequently used to identify individuals.”

This story was originally published October 31, 2023 at 11:01 AM.