Why is it illegal to give manatees food?

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.

Can you get in the water with manatees?

To get in the water with manatees can offer a thrilling, memorable, and transformative experience. In Crystal River, FL, you can submerge yourself in the water and revel in the companionship of these affectionate and friendly creatures. It presents an excellent chance for quality bonding with family, friends, or colleagues. However, the question remains: Does entering the water and swimming with these slow-moving sea cows actually benefit the animals?

Lawsuit Threat

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) has threatened to take this question to court for determination. The group has written a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in which they threaten to sue the service for allowing people to access manatee habitats and swim with the endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service must respond to the letter by May.

PEER’s counsel, Laura Dumais, asserts that swimming with manatee programs significantly disrupt the animals’ behavior. This disruption encompasses feeding, sheltering, and breeding patterns. Consequently, manatees might begin engaging in risky behaviors, such as venturing into the cold gulf waters to avoid noisy swimmers in warm springs.

Dumais stated, “People love the manatees a lot, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed this affection to transform into a profitable tourism industry that could harm the animals in the long run.” She added, “While some people may not realize how swimming with the manatees can affect the animals’ long-term behavior – as they don’t witness manatees suffering firsthand and may assume the manatees are unbothered – certain manatees actually stay away from crowded springs to avoid human interference.”

Manatee Success Story

Nonetheless, the management of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge asserts that manatees don’t appear to be affected. In fact, their numbers have experienced significant growth despite the increased human activities within Crystal River’s water channels.

According to Andrew Gude, the refuge’s manager, “The manatee represents a remarkable success story. The population is increasing substantially, even with the substantial rise in manatee tours. For a mere $40, you can access the water and engage in a once-in-a-lifetime experience by swimming with the manatees.”

Florida manatees have reached an unprecedented count of 6,000, exceeding the previous record by around 1,000 animals. The numbers have actually risen to the point where some individuals are advocating for action. They’re urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider downgrading the manatee’s classification under the Endangered Species Act from endangered (a designation introduced in 1973) to threatened. The review process for this potential downgrade is still in the draft phase.

Increased Manatee Tours

As manatee numbers rise, an increasing number of people are touring Crystal River to observe and swim with them. This is especially true during this time of year. This is when the cold-sensitive animals leave water channels with temperatures below 68 degrees and migrate to warm springs. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the areas where the manatees congregate. Additionally, these visitors engage in various water activities, including rafting, kayaking, scuba diving, boating, and freestyle swimming. For instance, the Crystal River refuge received 327,000 tourists last year, ranking as the fifth most visited destination in the United States, with manatees as the main attraction.

Enhanced Protection Measures

As the influx of people to Florida increases for an enjoyable experience with the charming manatees, a concern arises. The narrow swimming channels that the manatees use to access the springs become blocked, altering the behavior of certain manatees. Consequently, these manatees choose to avoid the springs to evade disruption. This is the issue PEER aims to address.

PEER expresses concern, emphasizing that heightened human activity in the refuge could lead to significant consequences. Such a situation might cause more manatees to remain in the open gulf waters. Unfortunately, this could result in some manatees succumbing to the cold waters while trying to evade dense human traffic in Crystal River springs.

Laura Dumais stated, “It is the manatee behavior that we do not see that is problematic. We are worried about the manatees that do not enter the springs when there are crowds of swimmers because they may behave in ways that endanger their lives.”

While the refuge hasn’t entirely banned human contact with animals, as proposed by PEER, measures have been taken to protect them. For instance, the sanctuary is completely closed to humans during extreme cold periods when manatees need it the most. Additionally, the restricted area for humans has been expanded, ensuring more manatees avoid human contact. Furthermore, the strictest actions are taken against any violation harming the manatees, serving as a deterrent for potential harm.

As we await the response from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to PEER or potential court actions, swimming with manatees remains possible. Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees assists tourists in planning and embarking on memorable tours. Our experienced captains and guides ensure interactions with manatees are safe and do not disrupt their habitats. If you’re considering witnessing these gentle giants, plan and embark on your tour with us at “Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees” for more information.

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