Manatees Migrating to Warmer Waters
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 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. On Nov. 15, seasonal manatee protection zone went into effect. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has provided boating safety tips below to protect manatees. 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…
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