Can you touch manatees

For generations, West Indian manatees also known by their subspecies, Florida manatees have been following the same migratory pattern from as far north as New England to this stretch of warm water located 90 miles west of Orlando and several miles inland from Crystal Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Crystal River area is considered the largest natural winter refuge in the world for manatees and is comprised of 70 springs, including Three Sisters Springs, where between and manatees have been sighted during the winter in recent years thanks to its ample vegetation and temperate waters.

Fish and Wildlife Service considers them a threated species there are upwards of 6, manatees in Florida today, a significant increase from 1, in Citrus County is the only place in the United States where people can legally swim with wild manatees in their natural habitat. Wear shades: Polarized sunglasses when boating and paddling will help you better see manatees in the water. Pass it on: Teach your children good manatee manners. Little ones can learn to appreciate these lovable creatures and how to help protect their habitat as they grow up.

These lovable manatees are curious, so if you float and remain still, they may swim up to you. Though they might look huggable, manatees are wild animals and scare easily. The sanctuaries are there for the manatees to get away from humans when they want to and are off-limits to swimmers and boaters. Prohibited actions must expand beyond chasing, riding, or poking and include touching and petting. These rules are already in place for whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals, but not yet for imperiled manatees who face many other threats, from watercraft collisions to the loss of vital habitat.

While some manatees are conditioned to human interaction, the vast majority of manatees tend to seek food, rest, and warmth away from people. Disturbance can drive manatees away from warm-water sanctuaries, often with lethal consequences. These areas must be expanded to protect wintering manatees from cold temperatures and harassment. The public outrage following this incident has shown that people care about the well-being of manatees and support a hands-off policy.

Report Issues Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. Go Outdoors Florida! What should you do when you see a manatee? Guidelines for Viewing Manatees.

Also, don't feed manatees or give them water. If manatees become accustomed to being around people, they can alter their behavior in the wild, perhaps causing them to lose their natural fear of boats and humans, which may make them more susceptible to harm. Do not pursue or chase a manatee if you see one while you are swimming, snorkeling, diving, paddling or operating a boat.

Never poke, prod or stab a manatee with your hands, feet or any object. If a manatee avoids you, do not chase the animal for a closer view.