Manatee sighting draws curious to Delaware marina

WILMINGTON, Del. — Curiosity was piqued at a Delaware marina Friday – a day after a manatee was spotted in its waters near the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal.

"They're a fascinating creature," said A. Ralph Woodrow, who was at Summit North Marina on Friday morning in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Florida manatee. "Have you seen one? Do you know anything about them?

"They're like the size of a hippopotamus."

On Thursday, a woman contacted Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Natural Resources police after spotting the manatee in the marina, Cpl. John McDerby said. An officer responded and found the 7-foot-long manatee swimming around the marina.

Though McDerby said there have been manatee spottings in Indian River Inlet between Dewey and Bethany beaches as recently as last year, he could not remember a time where a manatee made it this far back in the canal.

Manatees are large herbivorous marine mammals, sometimes known as sea cows. Florida manatees, best known for their homes in warm southern waters and gentle nature, have been known to swim as far north as Cape Cod, Mass., but typically don't go much farther north than the Carolinas.

McDerby said the interest in the manatee is widespread.

"Our Facebook pages are still getting comments, likes, shares, etc.,” he said. "Even now as I type, my phone has been giving me notification alerts since yesterday afternoon."

Marina workers said people have been calling to see if the creature was still there so they could come down and see it.

"The phone has been ringing off the hook," said Tim Deane, a marina worker, who watched the manatee swim near the docks for about an hour Thursday.

"It was pretty cool just seeing him cruising along and hang out," Deane said. "Nobody was messing with him. He was just doing what he does: eating and swim."