typhlonectes: During winter, manatees migrate to NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in se

typhlonectes:

During winter, manatees migrate to NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in search of warm, shallow waters to escape winter’s chill.

Because manatees tend to hang near the shoreline, munching pounds of seagrass, boat strikes have long been a threat to manatee population. By keeping our eyes out, motors up, and boat speeds low, we can all do our part to help protect these lovable creatures.

(via:NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries)

Photographs: USFWS and Bob Bonde/USGS

It’s Manatee Appreciation Day! These gentle giants can grow to over 14 feet in length and weigh in at over 3,000 pounds. Also, known as “sea cows,” manatees feed on seagrasses and other aquatic plants. Today, the total population is estimated to be at least 13,000 manatees, with more than 6,500 in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. When aerial surveys began in 1991, there were only an estimated 1,267 manatees in Florida.