As manatees flock back to their winter safe havens, Volusia County is looking for volunteers for their Manatee Watch program.

Manatee watchers are trained to observe manatee behavior, document manatee sightings, photograph manatees, and sketch scar patterns. Information gathered from Manatee Watch volunteers provides important data including behavior, movement within waterways, habitat use and individual identification.

“Over the years, we have definitely trained hundreds of volunteers, but of course they come and go, so we are always looking for new people that are freshly excited to get started in the program and get those reports submitted,” said Debbie Wright, Volusia County Manatee Protection Program Manager.

All that is required to volunteer is a participation in a free two-hour training program.

Two sessions are being held next month:

• 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, Feb. 7 at the Stetson Aquatic Center, located  at 2636 Alhambra Ave. in DeLand
• 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Marine Discovery Center, located at 520 Barracuda Blvd. in New Smyrna Beach

With this being such a rough year for manatees, Wright hopes they will get a lot of volunteers who will also help them spot injured or sick manatees in need of help.

“I know there's so much attention lately on manatees, so I'm hoping that we do have a really good turn out because we really especially could use that data,” said Wright. “Not only are they bringing in that data, but especially now with so many sick ones out there, you'll get training on how do identify the sick or injured or orphaned ones, and then while you're out there you'll know what to look for and then we can get a quicker response out for the animals that do need care.”

Anyone interested in being trained for the Manatee Watch Program, will need to retgister in advance. Contact Chad Murch at ManateeWatch@volusia.org or call 386-736-5927, ext. 12839.

For more information about manatees and Manatee Watch, click here.