Officials Concerned About Wayward Manatee

BOSTON -- The peak tourist season may be over on Cape Cod, but there's one out-of-town visitor getting a lot of attention.

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that a manatee spotted off the coast is sparking wonder and some concern.

Officials Concerned About Wayward Manatee

At first glance, it looks like a small island or a big divot, but up close there's a face from another world.

"He's eating and drinking and moving around. It's cold for him, but he seems to be doing very well," harbormaster Terry Clen said.

For a couple of weeks the manatee has been hanging around Sesuit Harbor, going under and around the docks.

On a brighter day assistant harbor master Rick Lemont videotaped the manatee. The video clearly shows the manatee has lost one flipper and an eye some years ago -- probably to a passing boat.

The town has invested many hours and some money on their special visitor who's drawing a lot of attention.

"It talks about our values as a community -- things we think are important, our marine life, our harbors where we live, and this is a chance to demonstrate that," Selectman Wayne Bergeron said.

It a tough balancing act for the harbormaster and others involved. They are trying to make him comfortable until they can find a way to get him out of the area.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is sending a team from Florida to take the manatee back.

Manatees, which are federally protected, are generally concentrated in Florida in the winter, but during summer months, they can be found as far north as Virginia, although the sightings are rare, according to the Save the Manatee Club.