Look Out for Manatees this Holiday Weekend

Fourth of July weekend is a busy time for boating on Florida waterways, and FWC is asking vessel operators to be on the lookout for manatees as they travel in coastal and inland waters.

Manatees are large, slow moving and oftentimes difficult to detect, and operators of boats and personal watercraft can take basic steps to avoid causing injury to these marine mammals. If you do hit a manatee while boating, please call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

Your actions can make a difference to wildlife. More information can be found on our website and in our Boater’s Guide to Living with Manatees. Additionally, watch our video on Manatee Safety Tips. 

Help support manatee rescue operations by purchasing a Save the Manatee specialty license plate.

New on MyFWC.com/Research

• Marine Mammal Publications
• Annual Rescue Summaries (manatees)
• Marine Invertebrate Collection
• Flatwoods Salamanders
• Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease
• MarineQuest
• 2019 Manatee Mortalities
• Red Tide Current Status
• Results from Red Snapper Research on the Atlantic Coast
• Stone Crab Catch Data

Social Media Corner

YouTube:

FWRI associate research scientist Kevin Enge leads a translocation effort of 100 scrub lizards from Martin County to Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area. 

Flickr:

Deciphering the contents of preserved fish stomachs is a difficult endeavor. Using clues such as fish jaw bones can be useful in identifying prey items down to species.

 Facebook:

Loggerheads typically nest in Florida from April to September. Did you know Florida holds the largest nesting loggerhead population in the world?