ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida manatees are beginning their seasonal journeys to warmer waters, prompting state wildlife officials to remind boaters to slow down and watch for the animals.
November is Manatee Awareness Month, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking residents and visitors to give manatees space as cold fronts move through the state.
Boaters can find protection zone maps at MyFWC.com/MPZ and additional resources through the FWC’s manatee program.
Why manatees seek warmer water
Manatees depend on warm-water refuges during winter, including springs and power plant discharge areas.
“Manatees rely on warm water sites to survive the winter, seeking refuge at Florida’s springs, power plant discharge areas and other warm water sites when water temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Ashley LaVere, the FWC’s manatee management program coordinator.
The seasonal movements can make encounters with boats and personal watercraft more likely, according to the agency.
What boaters should watch for
Despite their size, manatees can be difficult to spot below the surface.
The FWC recommends designating someone aboard to watch for snouts, backs, tails or flippers breaking the water. Circular patterns on the surface, sometimes called manatee “footprints,” can also indicate an animal moving below.
Polarized sunglasses can improve visibility. Boaters should travel slowly and follow posted manatee protection zone signs, which require reduced speeds or restrict access to certain areas.
Boat strikes are a major threat that can injure or kill manatees, the agency said.
Give resting manatees space
People visiting warm-water sites should observe from a distance and use binoculars.
The FWC warns that disturbing manatees can drive them out of protected areas and into dangerously cold water. It is illegal to harass, feed, disturb or harm the animals, according to the agency.
How to report a manatee in distress
Anyone who sees an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee should call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
Do not attempt to handle a sick or injured manatee. The agency says doing so can further harm the animal and put people at risk of serious injury.
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