HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. () — Manatees are escaping Florida for the season and moving upward along the Georgia and South Carolina coastline.

The animal, often called a sea cow, has been spotted grazing the marshy waters on Hilton Head Island.

“A day in the life of a manatee is all about going with the tides,” described Nicole Bartlett, a research scientist with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI). “During high tide, they venture out to feed. When the tide is low, they find a spot to rest or socialize with each other.”

Researchers with the CMARI said manatees seem to like South Carolina’s creeks, vegetation and marinas.

Four specific manatees—Gar, Luciano, Larmore, and Gotti—have gained considerable popularity after selecting the Hilton Head area as their temporary habitat.

Research indicates that manatees are present along the entire South Carolina coastline. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has recorded 223 sighting reports this year alone.

They rely on the community to help with those sightings.

If you spot a manatee, SCDNR asks you to fill out their report form, which go directly to Wildlife Biologists in South Carolina and Florida.

“It’s challenging to pinpoint the exact count of manatees migrating annually. However, we can safely say that there is an increase in sightings and reports,” commented Kelly Lambert, the Manatee Response Coordinator with SCDNR.

Bartlett speculated, “I’m not sure if it’s due to the unusual mortality rates in Florida pushing them to seek better vegetation elsewhere, or maybe rumors circulated among the manatees about a great northern spot.”

SCDNR AND CMARI are working to figure out more about the manatee’s migration patterns into South Carolina.

They’re tagging and tracking the animals to help with research and bringing more data in on those patterns.

“We’re asking how manatees are adapting, what their movement patterns are as the waters warm. Are we going to encounter more of them?” Lambert pondered, highlighting questions they aim to answer as more manatee data is gathered.

Bartlett said not to worry if you see a floating bobber moving with the tides. It’s the tracking tag, and it’s totally harmless to the animals.

“The gear is designed to break away. It has three different weak points on it. If it gets caught on anything, it’ll break away. If the animal loses their tag and we don’t see them for two years, the gears is still designed to fall off, and we’ve been tracking this for a very long time, and the gear does work as intended,” said Barlett.

Manatees are a protected animal in South Carolina. If you spot one in the waters, it’s recommended to stay 2 kayak lengths away. If you interfere or interrupt them, you can be met with a hefty fine.

“Manatees are charismatic megafauna, you know, they are curious animals, so they may come up to you and check you out,” said Lambert. “But of course they are protected by the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.  So not only is it bad for the animal to touch them or chase them or harass them because it alters their natural behavior, it is also illegal.”

The SCDNR Wildlife Hotline number for any injured, sick, or deceased any wildlife is 1-900-922-5431.