Manatees on the Move

Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission

Spring has officially sprung and that means manatees are on the move! Manatees are starting to leave their winter refuges and are more likely to be found in rivers, canals and nearshore waters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. These slow-moving, aquatic mammals can be hard to spot while boating (or showing off on that new jet ski). So show manatees some respect by:
• Wearing polarized glasses to reduce glare (and look way cool), allowing you to better see manatees, other wildlife, and even other people in the water.
• Going slow and looking out below for manatees when boating or on personal watercraft. That gives you more time to steer clear of manatees and other wildlife (including the human variety – it is spring break season after all).
• Designating a lookout to scan for manatees and other wildlife in the water. Look for the classic manatee “footprint” – circular patterns on the water’s surface. 🧐 📣!
More manatee-friendly tips: bit.ly/3KeqycI
Learn more: bit.ly/3ZcNtLf
If you encounter an injured, entangled, orphaned or dead manatee, please report it as soon as possible to our Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922).
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