About Manatees

Manatees are large mammals who live in the water. They look kind of like a walrus and weigh upwards of 1 ton! They move very slowly and usually cannot escape when boats swim near them. They often are injured or killed from boat collisions. Many adult Manatees have scars on their backs from being hit by the propellers of boats. These scars are sometimes used to identify the animals, sort of like a fingerprint.

Manatees are in danger of extinction. Their demise is largely due to injury from fishing boats. Some get caught in fishing nets, and they are hunted in some places for their meat. But the main threat is a simple fix: If you are boating in areas known for manatee population, go slowly, and with caution. The ocean belongs to all of us, and is a great and largely unexplored frontier. Let us conserve all life in our oceans by exercising caution!

Photo: NOAA

30 Years!

May 26, 1981, the first meeting of the "Save the Manatee" committee took place in Tallahassee. Save the Manatee Club, a national nonprofit organization, was co-founded thirty years ago by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett.

You Can Make a Difference! Adopt a Manatee!

Blue Springs State Park Blue Spring's natural spring maintains a year-round temperature of 72 degrees and is an attractive winter refuge for manatees who seek the spring waters when the surrounding river water temperatures become cold.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park A rehabilitation facility for manatees who are recovering from injuries before being released back into the wild.

Tampa Bay Five manatees frequently seen in the Tampa Bay area and along the west coast of Florida are up for adoption.

East Coast two manatees have gained fame when they were documented as having traveled to the northeastern part of the United States

Alabama The most recent additions to Save the Manatee Club's adoption program are named Bama and Zewie, and they have been sighted in Alabama waterways each year since 2009.

337 manatee deaths were documented in 2008 - 90 were water-craft related deaths and there was a record high of 101 newborn deaths. Biologists documented 699 manatee deaths in 2010.

Good news or not so good, when I find something noteworthy about our Manatee friends, I'll add it here

Photo credit: David Hinkel

Manatees crossing over King Spring toward shallow waters.

The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge,established for the protection of endangered West Indian Manatee. Here are unspoiled and undeveloped habitat in Kings Bay, forming the headwaters of the Crystal River. The refuge preserves the warm water spring havens, which provide critical habitat for the manatee populations that migrate here each winter.