Picture from: http://www.savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm



Manatees are large aquatic animals that sort of resemble an elephant.  They are grey with 2 forelimbs and they have a tail. They are a large species where they weigh almost around 1, 200 pounds and can get up to almost 13 feet long! They like to live in shallow slow moving waters where they will eat seagrass and vegetation.

Soon if we don’t do something about it the manatee will seek to exist. The manatee’s favorite habitat is also boater’s favorite place to fish. Almost 60% of manatees die due to impact injuries from boats traveling at a high speed, and 30% are killed by propellers or skews. Another reason is because of pollution in the water.

           

A dead manatee from being killed by a boats propeller.
Picture from: http://www.stpes.scps.k12.fl.us/ISTF_Acree/manatee/images/dead_manatee.jpg

We can and should help the manatee stay alive. The manatee is one key eliminate to the wildlife. If it disappeared it would affect another animal which would affect another, causing problems to the ecosystem. Manatees also help build the economy because tourists love to go see them in areas like Florida. One big thing they do is help keep down the vegetation in the water which is beneficial to the boaters. Boaters think that the manatee is a nuisance to them, because they always tear up there boats when they accidently strike them. If manatees weren’t there they would have a bigger problem, because they vegetation would be out of control, causing the vegetation to wrap around there propeller then destroying there motors. All boaters should think the manatee and help them by following the laws of the water. Boaters should always follow the posted speed zone signs, wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare, try to keep in deep-water, avoid seagrass beds, and at last stay at least 50 feet away from a manatee says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision, 2012, http://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/manatee/for-boaters . Everyone should also try to cut pollution down by not using chemicals that could leak into the water, and also by picking up trash and garbage that can get into there habitat.  If you follow these steps you could also help save the endangered species the manatee!

Youtube video of pictures and some facts about the Manatee! Manatees that have been hit by boats, May 3, 2011, Beccafors.

Resources:

http://savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm

http://www.manatees.net/

http://www.manateecenter.com/manatees.html

http://www.fun2dive.com/manatee-facts/

http://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/manatee/for-boaters/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umnaQ3Q8slM



Contact Information

Email- HeatherASchott@gmail.com