Here are some Manatee Facts:

• Manatees are marine mammals.
• Manatees are also known as sea cows.
• Manatees are gentle, non-aggressive animals.
• There are three species of manatees: West Indian Manatees (Trichechus Manatus), West African Manatees (Trichechus Senegalensis), Amazonian or South American Manatees (Trichechus Inunguis).
• There are also two sub-species of manatees: Antillean Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Manatus) and Florida Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris).
• Manatees mainly live in shallow (3ft-10ft) rivers, saltwater bays, canals and marshy costal areas.
• Amazonian manatees live in freshwater.
• Manatees cannot survive in water temperatures below 60 degrees.
• They live in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Amazon Basin and West Africa.
• Adult manatees can grow to be 9ft-13ft long.
• On average manatees weigh between 800-1,300 pounds.  There have been manatees that weighed up to 3,000 pounds!
• Manatees live to be between 40-60 years old.
• Manatees are gray.
• They have two paddle like flippers one on each side of their body and a big flat tail.
• The West Indian and West African Manatees have 3-4 nails on each flipper.
• The flippers help them steer while swimming. Manatees also use their flippers to help them eat.
• They swim by moving their flat tail up and down.
• While swimming sometimes manatees will do flips underwater, roll around and even swim upside down.
• Since manatees are mammals they cannot breathe underwater.
• Manatees usually come up for air every 3-4 minutes but have been known to hold their breath for up to 20 minutes.
• Manatees are slow swimmers.  They usually swim between 3-5 mph.  They can swim up to 20mph for very short distances.
• Manatees spend most of their time eating, resting or traveling.
• Manatees are herbivores meaning they only eat plants although at times manatees will eat small fish.
• Manatees eat turtle grass, different types of algae, water hyacinth and other types of plants in the water.
• Manatees have a large flexible lip that they use to help them eat.
• Manatees eat around 100 pounds of food every day!
• Manatees travel between 40-50 miles every day!
• Manatees have two small eyes one on each side of their head.  Even though they have small eyes manatees have good eyesight.
• Manatees cannot move their neck from side to side.  To see behind them they must turn their entire body!
• Manatees also have good hearing.  They have no earlobes on the outside of their head but two inner lobes one on each side of their head.
• Manatees have 24-32 molars located in the back of their mouths.  When their molars get worn down from when they eat, new teeth (molars) grow in.
• Mom manatees are pregnant for around 12-13 months.
• Baby manatees are called calves.
• Mom manatees only give birth to one manatee at a time.
• When a calf is born the mother manatee brings him/her to the surface to breath.
• Calves live with their mom for two years.
• Manatees spend most of their time alone however, they have been known to interact with other manatees and even play with them. They like to bodysurf with other manatees.
• Manatees will communicate with other manatees by making chirping, whistling and squeaking sounds.  They also make these sounds when they are scared.
• Manatees have a good sense of smell.
• It is illegal to hunt them.
• The only known predator to a manatee is a human.
• Manatees often die from getting hit by boats.
• Manatees also suffer from loss of habitat.
• Like dolphins, manatees are smart can be trained to learn tricks.

Manatee season started November 15 and runs through to March 31. As air and water temperatures drop, manatees begin moving south for warmer water refuge, and slower seasonal speed limits go into effect. Boaters are cautioned to be on the lookout for greater numbers of manatees moving into the waterways. When the weather is cold, the majority of manatees can be found in the warm-water refuges. When temperatures are warm, manatees move into surrounding canals and the Intracoastal Waterway to forage, increasing the chance of manatee/boater interaction.

Boaters should be aware that many seasonal manatee protection zones go into effect throughout the state on November 15 and run thru March 31. For information about manatee protection zones by county, including seasonal changes, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) website and click on “Data and Maps.” At the bottom of the page there is information on FWC Manatee COLD-weather changes to speed zones.

Statewide, 86 manatees were killed by boats in 2015 with one of those deaths occurring in Broward County. From January through October 2016, 89 manatees were killed by boats in Florida.

Manatees can be difficult to see as they often swim and rest just below the water’s surface. To avoid striking manatees, vessel operators should obey all posted speed limits, wear polarized sunglasses to help spot them in the water, and watch for the large, telltale circular slicks on the surface of the water (manatee “footprints”) that indicate the presence of manatees.

If you see a sick, injured, or deceased manatee, contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Number at (888) 404-FWCC (3922), *FWC or # FWC on a cell phone, or text tip@myfwc.com. It is very helpful to have the following information to help support manatee protection:

–  What is the exact location of the manatee?
–  Is the manatee alive?
–  How long have you been observing it?
–  What is the approximate size?
–  What is the location of the closest public boat ramp to the manatee?
–  Can you provide a contact number where you can be reached for further information?

As the human population in Florida increases and waterfront development continues, manatees are losing the habitats they rely on in order to survive. Development can damage seagrasses, which are the main source of food for manatees. Development can also degrade water quality and reduce the availability of warm water from natural springs that provide manatees shelter during periods of cold weather. At temperatures under 68 degrees F, the stress of the cold water in manatee habitats can be harmful or even fatal for manatees.

Residential and commercial development has reduced the number of natural warm springs that manatees once used to stay warm during the winter. Now, most manatees rely on the warm water outfall that power plants produce. But if plants are shut down, or the equipment experiences some kind of failure, manatees are left without the warmer water. The survival of Florida’s manatees will depend on protecting the natural warm springs that they rely on, and ensuring that they can enjoy those places safely.

Agencies such as Defenders are advocating for the establishment of more protection for manatee habitats, including three Sisters Spring at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and Kings Bay Manatee Refuge, so that manatees can shelter in warm springs they need and travel to them with reduced threats from speeding watercrafts. Increased protection and restoration of natural springs is also needed.

The waters off of Naples, Florida are a wonderful place to see manatees while out on the waters and we provide an educated staff that is very informed and careful when in the waters, to avoid hurting any manatees, while sharing knowledge of these wonderful creatures and offering a boat ride to see them in their natural manatee habitats. Despite their massive size, manatees are extremely gentle and we support their protection, while sharing their beauty.

Naples, Florida undoubtedly ranks amongst the best places to visit in Florida and manatee eco tours are high on the list of “must-dos” as far as Florida tourist attractions. Manatee tours offered by Manatee Eco-Tours include a boat tour with a close-up view of Florida wildlife. Whether you are a wildlife photography enthusiast or simply a tourist looking for a wonderful adventure tour, Manatee Eco-Tours will exceed your expectations.

Captain Barry and Carol started their eco adventures business in beautiful Naples in 1999. The company started with just one boat and has since added six boats to the fleet, all while bringing visitors out on the waters and offering them an opportunity to see Florida wildlife at a very close range. All Captains are licensed, insured and certified with CPR/First Aid. The Captains also have the experience needed on the water to take you to the areas where you will most likely see manatees and other wildlife and they are also very knowledgeable regarding Florida’s habitat and the ecological struggles of manatees as well as other wildlife, allowing the tours to be informative and educational.

Naples, known for its pristine white sand beaches, is paradise for natural wildlife and home to some of the most diverse and unique ecosystems in the nation. Aside from alligators, a wide variety of birds and large fish, and other kinds of aquatic life that are common to Naples, manatees are a Florida treasure.

Also known as sea cows, these gentle giants are typically found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, bays, estuaries and coastal water ecosystems along the southeastern United States. They can live in fresh, brackish, or salt water. Manatees prefer waters that are approximately three to seven feet in depth, however, along the coast, manatees tend to travel in waters that are about 10 – 16 feet in depth. The warm waters around Naples provide manatees with safe living and breeding areas, the warm water they prefer, and a steady and easy to access food supply.

Manatees, despite their large size (measuring an average of 8 to 13 feet and weighing between 440 and 1,300 pounds), are in fact graceful swimmers. They glide at about 5 miles per hour, but are able to swim approximately 15 miles per hour in short bursts. Other information you are likely to learn about manatees during Manatee Eco-Tours manatee viewing tours may consist of the different species of manatees, parenting, diet, how they are protected by law, what types of behaviors on the water can put manatees at risk of injury or death, how they breathe and how they typically travel.

When traveling along the Southwestern portion of the Sunshine State, stop for a manatee eco-tour and experience all the wonder that makes precious manatees a Florida treasure.

Florida’s state marine mammal, the Florida manatee, is related to the elephant. These grayish brown gentle animals use their front flippers to steer and their flat tails to help them move forward through the water. Manatees playing an extremely important part with regard to plant growth in shallow rivers, estuaries, bays and coastal waters where they live. Getting up close enough to see them is a special treat for visitors to the Sunshine state, as well as residents.

Manatees are herbivores and mostly feed on sea grasses and freshwater plants. They can be found in warmer waters and are rarely found in waters under 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Manatees live in Florida’s coastal waters during the winter season, though some migrate as far north as the Carolinas or as far west as Louisiana during the summer months. During the last few years, some manatees have been spotted as far north as Massachusetts.

Manatees are well known for their slow-cruising, gentle nature and have also been known to body surf when they are feeling a bit playful. They communicate through the use of squealing sounds under water, to convey feelings of excitement or fear. Baby manatees are born weighing approximately 60 to 70 pounds and measuring 3 to 4 feet in length and they nurse underwater.

When in the Naples, Florida area, taking a manatee sightseeing eco tour is a great way to enjoy a close view of Florida wildlife. Manatee Eco-Tours out of Naples is the only sightseeing tour company in the world that offers and stands by it’s NO SEE-NO PAY guarantee. We offer an informative 90-minute tour that will allow you to see manatees in their natural habitat. It is very likely to also see other types of wildlife, such as alligators, egrets, dolphins, sea turtles and other animals that are indigenous to the area during the tours. The tours take you and your group to the Faka Union Canal, which is part of the Port of the islands and the 10,000 islands.