It's easy to understand how the West Indian Manatee came to love the Crystal River and surrounding springs.
Manatees often return to the same location, wintering year after year.
Some stay year round. Manatees are protected by law as an endangered species, protected under the Federal Endangered Species and Marine Mammal Protection Acts and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act. More important than the breaking of the law is that human interaction with manatees can cause them harm. Manatees can be observed from a distance. Do not enter any designated manatee sanctuary.