They’re large, heavy and slow-moving, yet they can be surprisingly difficult to spot in the water. Multiple manatee sightings have been reported along the Texas coast in recent weeks, prompting wildlife officials to warn boaters to keep an eye out for the massive aquatic mammals.
On July 28, the Port Aransas South Jetty shared a video of a manatee spotted at various times in the Port Aransas harbor. The clip shows the gentle giant drinking freshwater beside a boat, earning it the nickname “plus-sized mermaid” from one commenter.
The sightings prompted the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN), which maintains the state’s manatee sighting database to track the animals’ movements and health, to issue a reminder for boaters to be alert.
“Texas is HOT and manatees are taking advantage of this warm water to expand their summer travels,” the organization wrote…