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Manatee Festival
Guidelines for manatee interaction
By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 10, 2003
- While swimming with manatees, it is best to observe them from a distance.
- Always move slowly and float on the surface of the water.
- Do not dive down: You may be waking up a sleeping manatee.
- Allow manatees to approach you and you may touch a manatee with one open hand.
- Never chase, surround, poke or prod a manatee.
- Be careful not to separate a calf from its mother.
- Manatees are very curious animals and those that want to observe you will approach you.
- Be cautious to avoid entering manatee sanctuaries. Those areas are set aside for manatees only.
- Avoid excessive noise and splashing.
- Use snorkel gear when attempting to watch manatees. The sound of scuba gear may cause them to leave the area.
-- Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Other tips for a better manatee exprience
- While boating, wear polarized sunglasses.
- Look for manatee snout, back, tail or flippers in the water.
- Don't discard trash in the water.
- Stay in deep water channels and avoid running over seagrass beds.
- Look but don't touch manatees.
- Don't feed or provide water for manatees.
- Watch for and follow the rules on posted speed zones and sanctuary signs.
-- Source: Save the Manatee Club
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