The Florida Manatee is a large subspecies of the West Indian manatee that is almost entirely restricted to the warm coastal waters of Florida. It must drink fresh water regularly and is known to cluster around freshwater discharge points from springs and power plants in winter. Population threats include boat strikes, red tide events, and the loss of warm-water refugia.
Best time to see a Florida Manatee
The best time to see a Florida Manatee is November–March, when about 66% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 6,044 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Florida Manatee? What animal is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Florida Manatee sightings near you
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