Learn About Our Gentle Giants
The coastal waters of Citrus County, Florida, where spring-fed rivers flow into the Gulf of Mexico, are a favorite habitat of manatees. These very large mammals spend their entire lives in water, coming to the surface only as necessary to get a breath of air every minute or so, depending on their level of activity.
Citrus County’s manatees, known as West Indian manatees and by the subspecies name the Florida manatee, are related to West African manatees, a creature called a dugong, and a now-extinct animal called the Steller’s sea cow. The word ‘manatee’ is derived from a Carib native word meaning ‘breast’ and probably refers to the suckling of baby manatees at their mother’s breast.
Manatees are large animals. Adults weigh between 900 and 1200 pounds, and measure 9 to 10 feet in length. Their bodies are shaped like an elongated oval with a paddle-shaped tail providing effective propulsion. Baby manatees come into the world weighing between 60 and 70 lbs.
Florida manatees have a low metabolic rate and a very low tolerance for cold weather. When winter settles over North America, manatees seek out warmer water, which is why they are so abundant around Citrus County, with its many spring fed rivers that remain constantly—and comfortably—mild regardless of the weather. Manatees do well in salt or fresh water. Their diet is totally vegetarian, and to maintain themselves, adults eat 10 to 15 percent of their body weight each day in aquatic vegetation. That’s more than 100 pounds of watery ‘salad.’
It seems that manatees spend about half their time sleeping. They drift down to the bottom in relatively shallow waters and sleep. Being air-breathing mammals, of course, they need to take a breath now and then, at intervals as long as 20 minutes. They rise to the surface, exhale noisily through the blowhole located on the top of their head, take a deep breath and sink back down to resume their nap.
Manatees don’t have any natural enemies, and under ideal conditions they can live 60 or more years. The biggest threat to manatees comes from human activity. They suffer cuts from motorboat propellers, they get caught in navigation locks, spillways and other water control systems, they eat dangerous discarded junk tossed into the water by thoughtless boaters and they get caught in nets and lines intended to catch fish and crabs. Overall, according to those who study manatees, their most serious threat comes from a loss of habitat. As coastlines and river banks are increasingly developed, the manatee population declines.
It takes five years for a female manatee to mature (Males require nine years to mature.) and become capable of reproduction. The gestation period is about 13 months, and single births are most common. Occasionally one sees a mother with two infants but twins are rare. Manatee calves remain with their mothers and continue to nurse for as long as two years.
In recent years there has been a great deal of interest in Florida’s migratory population of West Indian manatees. Efforts to conduct an annual census include aerial observations from helicopters, concentrating on favorite spots such as large, spring-fed pools and the outflow of cooling water from electrical power plants. One source (Geocities) puts the number at 2,600. But other sources point out the presence of manatees in southern waterways of Alabama and other Gulf coastal states, and up the Atlantic coast into the Carolinas. There are occasional summertime sightings as far north as the New York City area and even to coastal Maine. The mobility of manatees impedes efforts at counting their numbers.
Manatees are protected in the United States under federal laws, and additionally, in Florida, by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. There are also local laws and
regulations in several Florida communities governing the operation of power boats in waterways frequented by manatees. The gentle nature of manatees encourages some people to swim in waters where these creatures gather, sometimes touching the animals and rarely—and illegally—offering lettuce and other vegetable greens. This can be a dangerous activity if a mother manatee feels that a baby manatee is threatened. Every wildlife authority agrees that manatees are best left totally alone, and never, under any circumstances, fed.
In summary, manatees are another of the fascinating wild creatures that make Florida, in general, and Citrus County, in particular, so interesting and rewarding to visit. These very large aquatic animals go about their business gently and quietly, seemingly tolerant of and undisturbed by people watching them. They’ll survive for future generations if people refrain from feeding, touching or otherwise interacting with them, if motorboat operators obey slow speed and forbidden zone warnings, and if their habitat is protected against overdevelopment, dredging and other environmental threats.
Protecting Manatees
By swimming, boating or diving in Florida's inland waterways, you may be endangering the life of the West Indian manatee which is protected by federal and state laws. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 make it illegal to harass, capture or kill any marine mammal—including the manatee. In addition, the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act states: "It is unlawful for any person, at any time, by any means, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass or disturb any manatee."
Manatees can be observed and water-related activities can be accomplished without violating the provisions of these three acts. The following guidelines are designed to help you better understand these regulations and explain how you can have a memorable experience while protecting the manatees.
- Do not enter designated/posted sanctuaries for any reason.
- Operate boat at idle/no wake speed when in areas known to have manatees present or when observations indicate manatees might be present.
Note: Observations which indicate manatees might be present in the area include: observing a swirl at the surface of the water, observing the back sticking out of the water and/or observing the snout of an animal or hearing the animal exhale when it surfaces. - Avoid harassing manatees. Harassment is defined as any activity which alters the animal’s natural behavioral characteristics. Examples of harassment include the following:
- approaching a manatee before the animal first approaches you.
- actively pursuing/chasing (swimming after) or cornering a manatee while swimming or diving.
- poking, probing, stabbing a manatee at any time with any object. This includes but is not limited to a person's hand and/or feet.
- any activity which would separate a cow from her calf or an individual from a group.
- any attempt to snag, hook, hold, grab, pinch or ride a manatee.
- any attempt to feed a manatee.
- touching or disturbing a resting manatee.
- King Spring (Main Spring) and swim corridor are closed to all activity from 7:00pm – 7:00am.
Watch for These Signs
There are a few things you should remember while visiting Kings Bay, Crystal River, Florida. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other law enforcement agencies monitor boat speed and sanctuary restrictions specifically for protecting the endangered manatee. These restrictions also give additional protection to divers in the area. Your cooperation is needed to help protect manatees and divers.
Published by U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Manatee Links:
