Florida manatees begin seasonal migration to warmer waters

Florida manatees are beginning their seasonal journeys to warmer waters, prompting state wildlife officials to remind boaters to slow down and watch for the animals.November is Manatee Awareness Month, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking residents and visitors to give manatees space as cold fronts move through the state.Boaters can find protection zone maps at MyFWC.com/MPZ and additional resources through the FWC’s manatee program.Why manatees seek warmer waterManatees depend on warm-water refuges during winter, including springs and power plant discharge areas.“Manatees rely on warm water sites to survive the winter, seeking refuge at Florida’s springs, power plant discharge areas and other warm water sites when water temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Ashley LaVere, the FWC’s manatee management program coordinator.The seasonal movements can make encounters with boats and personal watercraft more likely, according to the agency.What b