Manatees on the Move Toward Warmer Waters

With cooler weather approaching, wildlife officials are reminding boaters to watch out for manatees seeking warmer water.

November is Manatee Awareness Month. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is warning boaters it may be difficult to see manatees since they swim and rest just below the water's surface. Boaters wearing polarized sunglasses are more likely to spot manatees underwater.

Manatees can't tolerate cold water, so they begin their annual migration to warmer water this time of year. Some even travel hundreds of miles during the annual migration to reach a warmer destination.

Seasonal manatee protection zones go into effect Nov. 15.

People can report sightings of injured, sick or dead manatees to the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 or (hash)FWC and (asterisk)FWC on cell phone.