The West Indian manatee is a marine mammal that grows to 1,000 pounds and roams U.S. coastal waters from Louisiana to Virginia. Similar to humans, manatees are adapted to the tropics and in winter months must seek warm waters like Florida Bay, where they are often seen by visitors. Manatees pull up and eat the abundant sea grasses and aquatic plants of the bay, consuming 10 to 15 percent of their body weight a day. Their time is divided between eating, resting and playing. They have limited eyesight but good hearing and communicate with one another in squeaks and squeals.
Research shows the manatee to be a gentle animal with few enemies.
Unfortunately, most of their problems are human-related. As our cities expand, their natural habitat is decreased. Added to this problem is the establishment of automatic locks and dams which can harm or kill manatees. But the most critical problem for manatees is boating accidents. They like to rest just below the surface of the water and are often hit by speeding boats.