A West Indian manatee was spotted in the Oregon Inlet Marina last Saturday.

Manatees often move north in the summer, following warm water and looking for sources of food, according to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

They prefer shallow, slow moving water such as around inlets and estuaries. Manatees are herbivores that feed on a wide variety of vegetation and can freely travel between fresh and marine water habitats.

Last year, they were reclassified from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Watercraft collisions, poaching and loss of habitat remain major threats to this species’ survival.

If you see a manatee, call 252-216-6892.