TAMPA, Fla. — Boaters are asked to beware of manatees as they start their travels to warmer waters around the state, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says.
With November being Manatee Awareness Month, FWC is sending reminders that the sea creatures can be hard to see in the water despite their size.
“As fall temperatures drop, manatees start making their way to Florida springs, power plant discharge areas and other warm-water sites to overwinter until temperatures rise again in the spring,” Michelle Pasawicz, FWC manatee management program coordinator, said in a statement. “Manatees need access to water warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit to survive.”
Officials recommend boaters wear polarized glasses to better spot them. They also recommend going slow and abiding by all Manatee Protection Zones.
"Boat strikes are a major threat to Florida manatees," the agency's website reads. "FWC law enforcement officers patrol state waters, informing boaters of seasonal manatee speed zones and taking appropriate enforcement actions when necessary."
FWC says it is recommended you give manatees space if you spot any, as bothering them could force them to swim out to potentially life-threatening cold water. It is illegal to harass, feed, disturb or harm manatees.
If you see an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee, you are asked to report it to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). You should not try to physically handle a manatee as you could harm the animal or yourself.
