ONLY IN FLORIDA MEET A MANATEE€¦ · the Florida manatee, one of the rarest marine mammals in the...

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MEET A MANATEE ONLY IN FLORIDA The slow-moving shadow ahead is as long as your paddleboard or kayak — and twice as wide. You’ve just seen a local celebrity: the Florida manatee, one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Look, but don’t touch. The slow-moving shadow ahead is as long as your paddleboard or kayak — and twice as wide. You’ve just seen a local celebrity: the Florida manatee, one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Look, but don’t touch. PRECIOUS TREASURE The endangered Florida or West Indian manatee is protected under federal law and Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978 "It is unlawful for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee." The endangered Florida or West Indian manatee is protected under federal law and Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978 "It is unlawful for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee." “MANATEE FOOTPRINTS” A circular wave pattern on the surface of the water created by the manatee’s tail as it surfaces from below MANATEE MANNERS Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines LOOK BUT DON'T: • touch or pet manatees • feed or give manatees water • chase or disturb a manatee • crowd or restrict a manatee • splash or make excessive noise • separate a manatee from its group, especially a cow from her calf WHEN BOATING: • keep in mind manatees move slowly and may not detect approaching boats • try not to pass directly over manatees to avoid injuring 1 2 5 4 3 FIVE VIEWING AREAS: Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River Blue Spring State Park, Orange City TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach Lee County Manatee Park, Fort Myers Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville FIVE VIEWING AREAS: Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River Blue Spring State Park, Orange City TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach Lee County Manatee Park, Fort Myers Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines LOOK BUT DON'T: • touch or pet manatees • feed or give manatees water • chase or disturb a manatee • crowd or restrict a manatee • splash or make excessive noise • separate a manatee from its group, especially a cow from her calf WHEN BOATING: • keep in mind manatees move slowly and may not detect approaching boats • try not to pass directly over manatees to avoid injuring 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. BY THE NUMBERS Manatees, aka sea cows, An adult can be 10 ft. in length Can live 60 + yrs. eat up to 150 lbs of plants each day. Can weigh 800- 1,200 lbs. Manatees, aka sea cows, An adult can be 10 ft. in length Can live 60 + yrs. eat up to 150 lbs of plants each day. Can weigh 800- 1,200 lbs.

Transcript of ONLY IN FLORIDA MEET A MANATEE€¦ · the Florida manatee, one of the rarest marine mammals in the...

Page 1: ONLY IN FLORIDA MEET A MANATEE€¦ · the Florida manatee, one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Look, but don’t touch. PRECIOUS TREASURE The endangered Florida or West

MEET A MANATEEONLY IN FLORIDA

The slow-moving shadow ahead is as long as your paddleboard or kayak — and twice as wide. You’ve just seen a local celebrity: the Florida manatee, one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Look, but don’t touch.

The slow-moving shadow ahead is as long as your paddleboard or kayak — and twice as wide. You’ve just seen a local celebrity: the Florida manatee, one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Look, but don’t touch.

PRECIOUSTREASURE

The endangered Florida or West Indian

manatee is protected under federal law and

Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978

"It is unlawful for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee."

The endangered Florida or West Indian

manatee is protected under federal law and

Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978

"It is unlawful for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee."

“MANATEEFOOTPRINTS” A circular wave pattern on the surface of the water created by the manatee’s tail as it surfaces from below

MANATEE MANNERS Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines

LOOK BUT DON'T:

• touch or pet manatees

• feed or give manatees water

• chase or disturb a manatee

• crowd or restrict a manatee

• splash or make excessive noise

• separate a manatee from its group, especially a cow from her calf

WHEN BOATING:

• keep in mind manatees move slowly and may not detect approaching boats

• try not to pass directly over manatees to avoid injuring

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FIVE VIEWING AREAS:

Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River

Blue Spring State Park, Orange City

TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach

Lee County Manatee Park, Fort Myers

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville

FIVE VIEWING AREAS:

Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River

Blue Spring State Park, Orange City

TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach

Lee County Manatee Park, Fort Myers

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines

LOOK BUT DON'T:

• touch or pet manatees

• feed or give manatees water

• chase or disturb a manatee

• crowd or restrict a manatee

• splash or make excessive noise

• separate a manatee from its group, especially a cow from her calf

WHEN BOATING:

• keep in mind manatees move slowly and may not detect approaching boats

• try not to pass directly over manatees to avoid injuring

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2.

3.

4.

5.

BY THE NUMBERSManatees, aka sea cows,

An adultcan be

10 ft.in length

Canlive

60+

yrs.

eat up to

150 lbsof plants each day.

Can weigh

800-1,200 lbs.

Manatees, aka sea cows,

An adultcan be

10 ft.in length

Canlive

60+

yrs.

eat up to

150 lbsof plants each day.

Can weigh

800-1,200 lbs.