BOSTON -- A manatee was spotted in the waters of Dennis, the Cape Cod Times reported Wednesday.

Two men said that they saw the manatee swimming close to a dock in Sesuit Harbor on Tuesday. One of the men said that the manatee was about 5 to 7 feet long, the newspaper reported. Last week, someone reported a manatee sighting in Fall River under the Braga Bridge.

Biologists said that the animal might have made its way through the Cape Cod Canal into the bay. Officials were worried about the manatee's health because the water temperature was 61 degrees, and manatees usually tolerate water that is about 68 degrees.

Anyone who spots the manatee is urged to call 978-551-0152. They are large, gray mammals that have a tail shaped like a paddle and two flippers.

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.