Manatees leaving warm-water refuges in large numbers
South Florida boaters cautioned

Posted Sunday, March 14, 2010

 
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cautions boaters in South Florida to be on the lookout for manatees moving away from warm-water habitat
into the Intracoastal Waterway and neighboring waters in search of seagrasses and other food. Particular areas of concern are in Lake Worth and the Fort Lauderdale
area near Port Everglades. More than 500 manatees were observed during winter aerial surveys in Palm Beach County, and almost 900 were observed in Broward County.
Boaters should slow down and strictly obey posted speed restrictions in manatee protection zones.

"The greatest danger of boat strikes to manatees occurs when high concentrations of these mammals move out of warm-water refuges and head toward feeding areas. Boaters
should use extreme care as this pattern develops," said Capt. David Schaeffer, with FWC law enforcement in Jupiter.

Law enforcement agencies will be increasing patrols and strictly enforcing manatee-protection-zone speed limits to aid the animals during this period when they
are most vulnerable to vessel strikes.

To avoid striking manatees, vessel operators should wear polarized sunglasses to help them spot the creatures in the water, and watch for the large, tell-tale
circular slicks on the surface of the water, called manatee footprints, that indicate the presence of manatees," said Kipp Frohlich, the FWC's Imperiled Species
Section leader.

If you would like more information on Florida's manatees, visit MyFWC.com/Manatee<http://myfwc.com/manatee/> or call the FWC's regional office in West Palm Beach at 561-625-5122.

To report a dead or distressed manatee, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).