The Florida Manatee These gentle, whiskered giants, found in the southeastern United States and in the Caribbean Sea as far south as Brazil, live in Florida year-round. They grow to an average length of 10 feet and can weigh as much as 3,000 pounds as adults.
Manatees make their home in shallow coastal waters, bays, and springs.
Local sightings are more common in winter, when cold temperatures drive these mammals inland to warmer waters. Collisions with boat hulls and propellers that slice their thick hides injure and kill countless manatees each year. Virtually all manatees in Florida bear tell-tale scars of impacts with boats. You Can Help Watch for manatees, especially in winter. Wear polarized glasses to reduce surface glare and to allow better through-water visibility.