Manatees are gentle and slow moving mammals. They are wonderful, caring parents to their young. And they are in danger.Twenty five percent of all manatee fatalities are related to boat encounters. Since manatees stay close to the surface where they must breathe, boat propellers harm them regularly.
Save the Manatee Club does amazing work in aid of these animals. Take a look at their homepage, and support this worthwhile cause.
The closest relatives of the manatee are the elephant and hyrax. Manatees can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas — particularly where sea grass beds or freshwater vegetation flourish. Manatees are a migratory species. Within the United States, they are concentrated in Florida in the winter.
Many of the Florida manatees make their home in the waters around Homosassa, which is about forty five minutes north of Tampa.
