When I was 4 years old, I had dreams of becoming a mermaid. With the prevalence of the PSA that all your litter ends up in the ocean, my barely formed brain thought that if I drew a picture of myself turning into a mermaid and left it in front of my house on the coast of Mississippi, then it would be swept away into the ocean and retrieved by the mermaids.
I remember laying my picture in my front yard without my mom’s knowledge and being so happy when it was not there when I returned later in the day. I was sure my message would be delivered to the mermaids and they would come and take me away with them to make me a mermaid. Sure it was littering, but I blame it on The Little Mermaid.
Even with the terrible realization later in my life that I could never be a mermaid, I still had a love for the water and the animals in it. That dream was dead, but I still had a fascination for the legends of these sea creatures. Then, I formed a new dream. To see the OG mermaids. The foundation for the legends. The majestic Manatee.
Over the years, I had studied manatees for elementary school projects and harvested a love for them. Even to the point of “adopting” a manatee named Gator from The Save the Manatee Club. If you are interested in an adoption or donating, check out their site: https://www.savethemanatee.org/
Whatever you call them. Mermaids, Sea Cows, Gentle Giants, Floating Potatoes… Manatees are a beautiful creature. And lucky for me, Florida is a short plane ride away. I am not saying I booked a special trip to Florida just to see Manatees… but I did.
When to See Manatees
Because Manatees like warm water, the best time to see them is between November and mid-March. As they retreat from the cold sea, you can get a better chance of seeing them compared to the summer months.
Where to Go
Although you can see manatees throughout Florida, these are the best locations to see a manatee in the wild.
Thousand Islands, Cocoa Beach
Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River
Blue Spring State Park, Orange City
Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach
Lee County Manatee Park, Fort Myers
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville
Methods
Depending on where you choose to visit, it can affect the method of how to see the manatees in the wild. If you visit Crystal River, you could have the opportunity to swim and snorkel with them. However, in other locations, you may have to paddle.
While in Cocoa Beach, we took a kayaking eco tour through the Thousand Islands in search. It was a fantastic tour and we remained dry during the day.
The best way to see a manatee in the wild is to remain quiet and wait. It can be difficult to see them at first because of the murky waters, but you will see their noses surface.
Show Them Some Respect
Remember these are endangered animals, so precautions are necessary for their safety. Please educate yourself and follow these rules if you see a manatee:
Never chase a manatee. If they are running away from you, do not chase after them. In no way should you ever corner or isolate them as well.
Do not feed or give manatees water. This will establish a relationship for manatees to approach humans for food and drinks. Since humans are the main reason for their endangerment, creating this type of a relationship can possibly put them in harm’s way.
Look, but do not touch a manatee. Legal actions can be taken against you if you touch a manatee.
Do not enter areas designated as “No Entry- Manatee Refuge”. Please do not ignore these signs.
When operating a boat, slowdown in areas manatees frequent and remain a safe distance away.
A Manatee in Trouble
Hopefully you are never placed into this horrible situation, but if you come across an injured, sick or orphaned manatee (or even a manatee that is being harassed by ignorant people), please report it immediately.
Now that you know how to see and act around a manatee, best of luck spotting these beautiful creatures! If you see them and caught them on camera, please share your pictures below! I will never turn down an adorable picture of a manatee.
What if I do Not See a Manatee in the Wild?
Since Manatees are endangered, you may not have the opportunity to see them in the wild. The Seaquarium in Miami has a beautiful area and program for their resident Manatee rescues.
___
Have You Seen a Gentle Giant?
