Manatees Migration Season Has Begun
With manatees moving to warmer waters as the temperature dips in Florida, boaters are reminded to take extra precautions to protect them.
Now that the weather outside is chilly, Florida manatees are migrating to warmer waters. They swim in search of a warm winter refuge such as freshwater springs, more shallow protected areas or canals adjacent to power plant outflows. An adult manatee may weigh 1,000 pounds or more but is susceptible to cold. Water temperatures dipping to 68 degrees or below can produce cold stress in these aquatic mammals, and even cause death. Seasonal manatee protection zone went into effect on Nov. 15. November is designated as Manatee Awareness Month because of this seasonal migration. As authorities said earlier this year, you should probably try to avoid riding the manatees. “Many manatees in Florida have scars from run-ins with boats. We can do …
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