Build Your Dream Home: 0% Down Buys You a Certified Buildable Lot in Bent Tree: a 3,500-acre Gated Community in the North Georgia Mountains.

Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Florida Keys & Everglades By Rick Ferren

Florida Keys & Everglades > Sidebars > Mind Your Manatee Manners

Mind Your Manatee Manners

It's estimated that there are about 2,000 sea cows, or West Indian manatees, left in the United States. About 43 percent of the endangered animals die of human-induced causes, many by collisions with boats.

Full-grown manatees reach lengths of 10 feet and weigh about 1,000 pounds. They can be found in fresh, brackish, or salt water, as long as it's above 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

While in the Florida Keys, and especially if you bring your own boat, here are a few things to know about protecting manatees, compliments of the Save the Manatee Club.

• Practice "passive observation" by watching manatees from a distance.
• Obey boating speed limits, especially in designated manatee protection zones.
• Resist the urge to feed manatees or give them water.
• When swimming or diving, look, but don't touch.
• Stash your trash. Discard monofilament line, hooks, and other trash properly.
• If you see an injured, dead, tagged, or orphaned manatee, or if you see a manatee being harassed, Call 1-800-DIAL-FMP (1-800-342-5367), or *FMP from a cellular phone, or VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio. Click here for more information on West Indian manatees.

[ Previous Topic | Next Topic ]

Published (print): 1999, Published (Web): January 2003, ISBN: 1-56352-543-7

Visit some of our other sites:
| Georgia Cancer Specialists | Dermatology Associates of Atlanta | Georgia Cancer Foundation | Lenz Marketing | Chemo Orders | Mama Says No More Frozen Pizza