Manatees in Floridaby Donny
Manatees in Florida
Enjoy These Beautiful Creatures of the SeaEditor Comment: We asked a good friend of ours to submit some information about manatees in Florida. They are wonderful creatures to witness and something that you have to see. Some Cool Facts About Manatees...Manatees breathe air, have hair on their body, and are warm blooded species. Since they are mammals, they don’t lay eggs and give milk to their young ones. They are different from other mammals as they live in water. Florida manatees have thick fat layers (see the pics), which keeps them warm. The babies of manatees feed on their mother’s milk, which is rich in fat, and allows them to grow and develop fast. Manatees are known to lie at the bottom and come up on the surface of the water every 20 minutes to breathe. Adults can weigh up to an amazing 3000 pounds and reach 13 feet. Up close they can be very intimidating creatures. Manatees are migratory so during the winter months they migrate to Florida, but during summer months in the United States they tend to find their way to Texas and to Massachusetts. Manatees in Florida can be found in slow-moving rivers, bays, and in shallow waters (which you may get the opportunity to find them up close just off the shore). They can survive in brackish, and in salt water and prefer a more shallow area. Warm water and abundance of food provide the ideal shelter and breeding area for manatees in Florida. Manatees are slow moving mammals and surprisingly are also very gentle. Looking at the sizes of manatees, one would be surprised to know that they are herbivorous. They enjoy eating floating plants, and resting (yea they are lazy like us). The Future of the Manatees in Florida...There are some Manatee Clubs in Florida who protect these endangered manatees and their environment. Despite the efforts to save the Manatee population, interaction with these species are allowed in Florida. There are a number of river tours operating in Florida where one can swim and snorkel with the manatees in the Crystal Rivers along the coast of West Central Florida among other spots. Only an experienced diver can swim with the manatees. You can also stay on top and watch the manatees swim. There are a number of house boat facility in Florida, where one can stay and enjoy good times with the manatees from top of the boat or by swimming and snorkeling with them. Truth be told we spent some time in Englewood Florida and had the chance to swim right next to a manatee in Florida as a mother and a baby casually swam right past us. It was an amazing experience even though we were a tad apprehensive given the sheer size of these beauties. Protection of manatees is also important, because they help control the overgrowth of sea grass beds. They keep grazing this grass which helps avoid the use of chemical as a form of aquatic control. Manatees are a source of ecosystem indicator - by studying the health of the manatees you can know the health of our coastal environments. Extensive coastal area development has affected manatee feeding sites. Manatees in Florida have become a very important and crucial element for the Florida tourism industry. A number of tourists visit Florida for its weather and sunshine, but also do not forget to take a boat tour to see the manatees and to interact with these gigantic mammals and other Florida beaches wildlife. These endangered manatees in Florida need to be protected and preserved for the future generations to see and study these wonderful mammals. Contact Us if you'd like assistance for finding tours to see these beautiful creatures while on your Florida vacation. Learn more about manatees in Florida & other things to do by visiting our favorite travel site. Click here to read or post comments. |
