Florida manatees are beginning their seasonal movement toward warmer water as cooler months arrive, prompting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to remind boaters to take extra care on state waterways.
The agency said the start of Manatee Awareness Month coincides with the annual migration toward winter refuges. Manatees rely on warm-water locations to survive the winter, according to Ashley LaVere, coordinator of the FWC’s Manatee Management Program. When water temperatures fall below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, manatees seek out natural springs, power-plant warm-water discharges and other warmer sites.
Boaters and personal watercraft users may encounter the animals more often during that movement. Vessel collisions are a major danger, and manatees can be difficult to see below the surface, particularly in glare or low visibility.
The FWC recommends slowing down, following posted restrictions in manatee protection zones and assigning someone aboard to watch the water. Signs of a nearby manatee can include a snout, back, tail or flipper breaking the surface, as well as circular “footprints” left on the water by a swimming animal. Polarized sunglasses can also help boaters spot animals.
Visitors at warm-water gathering areas should keep their distance and avoid touching, feeding, harassing or otherwise disturbing manatees. The FWC said disturbance can push animals out of refuges and into water that is too cold. Manatees are protected under state and federal laws; binoculars are a preferred way to watch them without interrupting their behavior.
Anyone who finds an injured, sick, distressed or dead manatee should call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. The agency advises the public not to attempt a rescue or handle an injured animal, since trained specialists can be dispatched to respond.
