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Manatee interaction rules
By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 12, 2001
- While swimming with manatees, it is best to observe manatees 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.
- 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 rules for a better experience
- 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 sea grass beds.
- Look but don't touch manatees.Don't feed or provide water for manatees.
- Watch for and follow the rules on posted speed zone and sanctuary signs.
- Source: Save the Manatee Club
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