If you’ve spent time on Florida’s waterways, you’ve probably encountered one of our state’s most beloved wild residents:the Florida manatee. These gentle, slow-moving mammals spend their days grazing on aquatic vegetation in warm coastal waters, rivers, and springs. When winter arrives and water temperatures dip below 68°F, manatees migrate toward natural springs and warm-water refuges to survive the colder months.
Florida manatee by Dan Mele
November is Manatee Awareness Month, a time to celebrate these peaceful giants and reflect on how we can help protect them. As Florida’s waterways face mounting pressures, manatees are struggling to find the food and shelter they need to thrive.
A Species Facing Growing Challenges
The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, depends on healthy freshwater and coastal ecosystems to survive. Yet across the state, these gentle giants face mounting threats that endanger both their future and the health of Florida’s waterways.
Pollution and algal blooms have contributed to the widespread loss of aquatic vegetation, leaving many manatees without enough food to sustain them. Boat strikes remain another leading cause of injury and death, while runoff from agriculture, urban development, and wastewater continues to degrade the clean water that manatees and countless other species depend on.
Restoring the Ocklawaha River for Manatees and Florida’s Springs
The Florida Wildlife Federation understands that protecting manatees means protecting the places they depend on. That’s why we’ve long supported efforts to restore the Ocklawaha River and the greater Great Florida Riverway—one of Florida’s most significant freshwater systems.
For more than 50 years, the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam has blocked the natural flow of the Ocklawaha, flooding over 7,500 acres of forest and cutting off manatees from more than 20 freshwater springs that once provided warm-water refuge.
Florida manatee by Sara Vozel
By breaching the dam and restoring the river’s natural flow, more than 150 million gallons of fresh water per day could be returned to the St. Johns River system, uncovering those hidden springs and reconnecting habitats vital to manatees. Restoration would reopen a pathway for manatees to reach Silver Springs, a historic winter haven, and expand their access to natural warm-water refuges as artificial ones from power plants are phased out.
Photo by Federico Acevedo
Restoring the Great Florida Riverway would strengthen the ecological health of an entire watershed to benefit not only manatees, but fish, turtles, birds, and the people who depend on clean water for recreation and life.
Sharing the Water Responsibly
Whether you’re boating, paddling, or simply enjoying Florida’s waterways from shore, there are simple ways to help protect manatees and their habitat. It’s important to remember that manatees are a federally protected species, and it’s illegal to touch, feed, or disturb them in any way. Keeping a respectful distance ensures that these gentle animals remain wild and safe. Here’s a few tips to ensure you’re recreating responsibly:
- Follow posted speed zones. Slow down in areas marked for manatee protection, especially near springs, river mouths, and warm-water sites.
- Avoid shallow areas with aquatic vegetation. Propeller scars damage manatee food sources and the ecosystems they depend on.
- Keep a watchful eye. Look for snouts, tails, or circular ripples on the surface before starting your engine.
- Never feed or give water to manatees. These actions can alter their natural behavior and increase the risk of injury.
- Report sick or injured manatees to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Every small action adds up. With care and awareness, we can all play a part in keeping Florida’s waterways safe for manatees.
A Future Where Manatees Thrive
FWF’s mission is to safeguard Florida’s water, wildlife, and wild spaces — ensuring that the places manatees call home are protected for generations to come. From advocating for river restoration to defending clean water and conservation funding, we’re working every day to build a brighter future for these gentle giants and all who share their habitat.
This Manatee Awareness Month, take a moment to celebrate Florida’s manatees and join us in protecting the waterways that make our state so extraordinary.
Florida manatees by Getty Images
Learn more about our work to restore the Ocklawaha River and protect Florida’s manatees at floridawildlifefederation.org/ocklawaha-river.
