Manatees are lovely, gentle creatures. They have genuine interest and curiosity in people. Encountering them in the wild—not coaxed or trained in any way—is a remarkable, unforgettable experience. Their interest and curiosity in you will capture your heart, and their docile nature inspires calmness in their presence.
Wild, not pets
Manatees may be adorable creatures, but they are also wild animals. While it is tempting to touch, rub or give manatees food, you must never do these things.
Manatees are an endangered animal species protected under state and federal law, making it illegal to feed, harass, pursue, injure, or kill them.
So why is it illegal to give manatees food?
1. Feeding them may alter their natural behavior.
Manatees naturally fear people and loud noises, prompting them to distance themselves from possible threats. A standard manatee is gentle yet curious, but it might react with hostility and flee if feeling threatened by people or boats.
If manatees were to link people or boats with food, their friendliness could override their innate instinct to flee. Feeding them changes their interaction patterns, disrupting their natural self-protection behavior and putting them at risk.
2. Feeding manatees encourages them to stay at the docks and marinas.
By frequently depending on humans for food, manatees can become tame, losing their natural wariness of people and boats. They may associate humans and boats with food.
Various human activities take place at docks and marinas, attracting tame manatees anticipating food. Since these areas usually have shallow water, manatees spending time there become more susceptible to boat strikes, a leading cause of their mortality.
3. Feeding manatees may change their natural diet.
Manatees, predominantly herbivores, inhabit vegetation-rich areas and possess adeptness in locating seagrass. They naturally find adequate food sources, rendering feeding unnecessary.
Additionally, offering manatees food outside their natural diet might lead to adverse consequences. If they develop a liking for such food, they might struggle to find it in their habitat, leading to potential harm. Feeding them could result in harassment, injury, or even death.
4. Manatees can take care of their freshwater needs.
Manatees necessitate occasional freshwater for their saltwater balance; nonetheless, daily intake is superfluous. Likewise, they thrive in fresh, brackish, or saltwater, obviating the need for daily freshwater consumption.
Moreover, these creatures possess an impressive ability to locate natural sources of fresh water, rendering the provision of water via hoses redundant. Additionally, manatees actively consume water and ingest it through the consumption of aquatic plants. Consequently, the need to entice them towards boats or docks with hoses is unwarranted, as such offers can disrupt their behavior and jeopardize their safety.
Furthermore, are you contemplating a swim with Florida’s manatees as part of your adventure? Have you previously embarked on a manatee tour? At Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees, we not only offer opportunities for observing manatees, but we also provide the chance to snorkel alongside these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Lastly, our experienced captains will skillfully lead you to prime manatee sites, while also imparting guidance on interacting with these magnificent creatures in a manner that respects their environment. With expert guides by your side, you’ll undoubtedly relish the rewarding and unforgettable experience of engaging with manatees, driven by their innate curiosity and genuine disposition.