Thirsty Manatee Stops by Florida Police Dock for Refreshing Drink

The marine mammal was spotted enjoying some fresh water from the police boat rinse-off.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 8:05pm

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An extremely blurred, impressionistic photograph showing the faint outline of a manatee's head emerging from the water and drinking from a gentle stream, with the police boat and dock visible in the background, all in a soft, dreamlike palette of blues, greens, and oranges.A thirsty manatee takes a refreshing drink from a police boat's fresh water rinse-off, highlighting the need for public awareness about properly interacting with protected marine wildlife.Bradenton Today

A thirsty manatee was caught on camera stopping by a police dock in Bradenton, Florida, to take a refreshing drink from the fresh water being used to rinse off a boat. The Bradenton Police Department shared the video, noting that while manatees love fresh water, people should never feed or encourage them to approach, as it can put the animals in danger by making them associate humans and boats with handouts.

Why it matters

Manatees are a protected species in Florida, and incidents like this highlight the need for public awareness about properly interacting with marine wildlife. While the video is charming, it serves as a reminder that giving manatees direct access to fresh water can lead to problematic behaviors that endanger the animals.

The details

The police department said its marine unit was wrapping up patrol and rinsing a boat when the unexpected "dock inspector" showed up to take a drink. Video footage shows the manatee positioned under the boat, gulping down the fresh water as it poured from the vessel.

  • On Monday, the Bradenton Police Department marine unit was finishing up patrol.

The players

Bradenton Police Department

The local police department in Bradenton, Florida, whose marine unit encountered the thirsty manatee.

Manatee

A large marine mammal that was spotted drinking fresh water from the police boat rinse-off.

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What they’re saying

“Manatees love fresh water, but humans should never give it to them or encourage them to come close. Doing so could cause the large sea creatures to associate people and boats with handouts, putting them in danger.”

— Bradenton Police Department

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that while manatee encounters can be charming, it's important for the public to refrain from directly providing fresh water or encouraging these protected marine mammals to approach, as it can lead to dangerous behaviors that put the animals at risk.