Manatee Spotted In Drum Point, Plus More Dolphin Sightings In Maryland’s Bay Waters

CALVERT COUNTY, Md. — Drum Point resident Chris Cooke is used to seeing wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay. But last week was the first time he saw a manatee in the waters outside his own home.

Cooke lives on the water and said his family spends lots of time outside, whether it’s on their boat or doing other water-based activities. He said he commonly sees cownose rays and, like many Maryland residents, looks out for the dolphins that return to the bay yearly.

Cooke said he first spotted the manatee on Friday, July 24, but the animal was only above water briefly, and he wasn’t sure what it was. The next morning, the manatee came right up to his dock while Cooke was standing there, and he was able to take a short video.

“I was shocked,” Cooke said, upon realizing the animal was a manatee. “I’ve spent lots of time in Florida and they’re common down there. To see one up here was startling but very, very exciting. It was great to see some nature.”

Cooke, who is not active on social media, sent the video to a friend to post to make sure other locals were aware the manatee was nearby and to be careful boating.

Like many in Southern Maryland, Cooke said he loves seeing all the wildlife, especially the seabirds, like ospreys and eagles, as well as some rarer large owls and hawks.

“They’re a treat to see,” Cooke said. “It’s always a privilege to be in this environment and be able to see these animals around you.”

Manatees are not unheard of in the Chesapeake Bay, but they are extremely rare. Manatees live in the warm, shallow waters of Florida and the Caribbean. They are slow-moving herbivores and are particularly susceptible to human interference.

State and wildlife agencies track these movements and ask that locals report sightings to the National Aquarium’s Stranded Animal Hotline or the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Meanwhile, residents have continued to post and report sightings of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River, with recent sightings in Solomons and more. Chesapeake Dolphin Watch tracks residents’ dolphin sightings in the area, and a BayNet staff member caught a video of dolphins swimming this weekend outside of Greenwell Park.

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