FWC warns boaters to look out for manatees
Manatees are on the move to look for warmer water
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Florida Fish and Wildlife is warning boaters to be on the look out for manatees this time of year. The mammals are on the move as they search for warmer water. Video by fox4now.com
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FORT MYERS, Fla.- Florida Fish and Wildlife is warning boaters to be on the look out for manatees this time of year. The mammals are on the move as they search for warmer water.
Stephanie Nussbaumer and her 2 children keep their eyes on the water. The family is visiting from Denver and spends their last day at Manatee Park in Fort Myers.
"Definitely a neat experience to come down and see this because we definitely don't see this in Colorado."
Florida Fish and Wildlife is now warning boaters about manatees migrating to warmer waters. You can usually find the gentle giants in canals adjacent to power plant outflows. If temperatures dip to 68 degrees or below, it can cause stress on the mammals. "Some of those symptoms could include weight loss, skin lesions or abscesses," said Carli Segelson, FWC spokesperson. Wildlife officials warn with these mammals on the go, they're more susceptible to boat strikes and with the winter weather, some speed limits for boaters have changed in some areas. Besides following manatee-safety recommendations, people can help manatees survive by reporting sick, distressed, injured, orphaned or entangled manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or text Tip@MyFWC.com. Florida residents also can call #FWC or *FWC via cell phone.
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