The West Indian Manatee has been listed as endangered since 1972. Manatees are basically a riverine species in Florida although they are occasionally seen along the oceanside beaches .
Manatees have wide-ranging migratory habits.
They are found throughout Florida and southeastern Georgia and on rare occasions along coastal states further north and west. Manatees can be found on KSC year round with the exception of the very coldest periods. The abundance and distribution patterns on KSC have not been static over the last 13 years of monitoring. A five-fold increase in manatees using KSC waters in spring has been documented. The increased numbers of manatees appear to reflect the changes in the estuary outside KSC where the habitats are being more rapidly affected by human activities.