Can you pet manatees in florida

Our Tours Bronze Tour. Crystal River Manatee Tour. View Tour Details ». Silver Tour. Gold Tour. Platinum Tour. Our 1st Class Manatee Tour.

Crystal River Eco-Tour. Swimming with the Manatees — Crystal River, Florida. The best custom manatee tour in Crystal River, Florida. Recent Posts Do manatees ever go on land? Can you swim with manatees without a tour? Why is it illegal to give manatees food? Do manatees prefer shallow water? Jennifer Nalewicki is a Brooklyn-based journalist. You can find more of her work at her website. American South A Smithsonian magazine special report. Post a Comment.

Mellow out: Swim slowly and quietly, avoid splashing, or blowing bubbles under water, which can scare the manatees. Keep it clean: Keep feet and fins off the bottom to avoid kicking up sand to maintain visibility. Manatees first: Give manatees the right of way. I mean they were there first, right?

Slow down: Obey speed zones. Boats are the biggest threat to manatees and, unfortunately, many manatees are killed every year by boat strikes. The manatee is also protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of , which states: "It is unlawful for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee.

The State of Florida can pursue prosecution under federal law in circumstances of extreme harassment, resulting in the death or injury of a manatee. For more information: Guidelines for Protecting Florida Manatees. Skip to main content.

Report Issues Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. Go Outdoors Florida! What should you do when you see a manatee? Guidelines for Viewing Manatees.

Also, don't feed manatees or give them water.