Inside the Wet, Wild, Gnarly Manatee Orgies of South Florida

In Florida, manatees are best known as shy, gentle giants. But about once a year, the state’s beloved sea cows reveal an…erm…freakier side of themselves.

You may have seen the videos: groups of massive manatees piled on top of one another, splashing, flapping, and rolling around in the water. While Florida’s manatees can mate year-round, these mating herds are usually spotted during the steamy summer months. Florida police have even had to remind people not to call 911 on the frisky scenes — and to give the mammals some space.

“We get calls all the time from citizens when they see this, believing the manatees are in distress,” the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office previously wrote on Facebook. “We can assure you they are more than fine.”

So, what’s actually going on here?

Let us explain.

When a female manatee becomes fertile, she’s typically surrounded by a group of males who squirm around and shove each other while vying for a prime mating position. For the duration of this cycle (around three weeks), the female can mate with one or more males in what is known as a mating herd.

According to the nonprofit group Save the Manatee Club, the effect can be “quite dramatic” in shallower waters, with “churning waters and flailing flukes and flippers.”

“The activity can attract onlookers who are either curious about the commotion or concerned that the manatees in the estrous herd are injured, stranded, or in distress,” the group says on its website. “This is natural behavior.”

The nonprofit reminds people that “as with all encounters with wild manatees,” it’s essential to observe only from a respectful distance (you know, the Golden Rule).

Interfering with the mating herds could disrupt their natural behavior and jeopardize the reproductive cycle. And despite being known for their docile nature, the 1,000-pound creatures could also injure someone who dares to venture into the frothy mating waters.

“They are very focused on mating with the female. The danger is if they start rolling and getting active,” Andy Garrett, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s manatee rescue coordinator, told New Times in 2023. “They may roll on top of you. They are obviously grabbing onto anything they can.”

The Save the Manatee Club advises against approaching or touching a manatee herd if you happen to come across one.

If you see someone bothering a mating herd of manatees, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asks that you call 888-404-FWCC (3922) or your local wildlife agency.