Anna Maria Island is famed for its wildlife, which people from all over the world come to see in its natural habitat. But one of our annual visitors, the manatee, is under constant risk from death by motor boat users.
While there are plenty of measures in place to deter speedsters on our inland waterways, some parts of Florida are offering a timely reminder to take care when out on the water.
The Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that manatees have swarmed into South Florida in huge numbers in the past few weeks, driven south by cold weather and traveling routes that increase their risk of fatal collisions with boats.
It says: 'Since Thanksgiving, boats have killed two manatees in Palm Beach County and one in Broward, according to preliminary reports. Increased marine patrols began in both counties last month, and biologists are urging boaters to keep a close watch to avoid harming the large sea mammals. Two things are different this year: their increased numbers and more frequent movement, possibly because of fluctuating temperatures, as they leave warm-water refuges in search of food and return when the temperature drops.
"What's unusual is you have a lot of manatees in the traveling zones, traveling back and forth on the Intracoastal Waterway between Broward and Palm Beach counties," said Christy Hudak, a research associate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "That does raise the risk."
So, remember, watch out for manatees, they deserve and need our protection.
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