The Gentle Manatee

My mom's favorite animal is the Manatee, I am often surprised at how many people have either not heard of them or know nothing about them. I grew up in a house where Adopting a Manatee and "Sea Cow" gifts were common place. Being that the summer is upon us, and boating is in high swing, I thought I would share a little bit about these gentle giants we love so much.



Behavior: Manatees are passive, slow-moving animals. Most of their time is spent eating, resting and traveling. Manatees are often shy and reclusive.

Habitat: Manatees are found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas, particularly where seagrass beds or freshwater vegetation flourish.

Mortality: Many manatee mortalities are human related. Most human-related manatee mortalities in Florida are caused by watercraft collisions. They can accidentally ingest fishhooks, litter and fishing line or become entangled in crab trap lines.

So be careful out there in the water and watch out for these adorable guys. There are many things we can do to protect our planet and the animals on it, we just have to try. What a shame if our children miss seeing them.



http://www.savethemanatee.org

Ta Ta for now,
Lizzy