It’s that time of year again! The holiday season is coming up fast. Everyone is talking about turkey and dressing, what presents they want for Christmas, and plans are being made for New Year’s Eve. But, there is one aspect of this magical time that people are missing: manatees.
What? Manatees? Those cow animals that live in the water?
Yes, November is National Manatee Awareness Month. You might think that a month dedicated to manatees would be associated with warmer months that remind us of white, sandy beaches. But, actually, from the end of October until the beginning of April, manatees flock to Florida for warmer waters during the cold winter. The governor of Florida set November aside for manatees because that is when most of them arrive and settle in for the next five months.
By now, some of you are probably saying to yourself “wait…what is a manatee?”
Manatees are adorable mammals native to waters in and around Florida. They are large, gray animals with cute flippers and a paddle-shaped tail. Manatees really don’t do a lot. They enjoy eating sea grass (they’re strictly herbivores) and sleeping most of the day. However, they are very curious animals and like to go on adventures, which usually include coming up to people in small boats and kayaks, rolling over for people to rub their tummies, and chewing on rope attached to boats.
Crystal River, Florida, is one of the only places in the world where you can actually swim with manatees. However, if you are not on a dive with an experienced captain, it is encouraged that you do not touch manatees (even though they’re adorable). They are still wild animals and should be treated as such.
You might be wondering why such an obscure animal is recognized nationally. Though manatees have recently been taken off the endangered species list, they are still in critical condition. Manatee Awareness Month helps in educating the nation about manatees and heightens the public’s awareness about manatee safety laws.
Manatees are gentle, friendly, slow-moving creatures. They have no natural enemies, and yet their numbers continue to dwindle. In 2011, there were just over 4,000 West Indies Manatees counted. To put it into perspective, there are more students attending Mercer than there are manatees. Almost half of all manatee deaths are caused by humans. Manatees ingest fish hooks, get caught in canal locks, and, most of all, are maimed and killed by boats. Almost all manatees have some form of scaring from coming into contact with boats. Florida has passed multiple laws to try and protect manatees from boaters. These laws have instituted speed limits in areas where manatees are frequently known to swim. Boaters are also asked to keep their distance from any manatees they see.
If you are not frequenting Florida waters in your boat, there are other ways you can help protect these beautiful animals. Properly recycling trash is very important, not only for manatees, but the environment in general. Also, you can actually adopt a manatee! Your proceeds go to protecting manatee habitats that are slowly disappearing. Loss of habitat, along with boating accidents, is the biggest problem the manatee faces. Manatees, despite their large size, do not have much body fat, and must migrate to the warm springs of Florida to survive in the winter. These springs are becoming harder for manatees to find due to development and droughts. Save the Manatee is a great organization devoted to preserving manatee habitats and fighting for manatee rights. If you want to get involved, I highly suggest checking out their amazing site.
I, personally, love manatees (if you haven’t already figured that out). I recently through a Manatee Awareness Month party complete with manatee-themed games, manatee-inspired food, and an informational presentation on manatees. All my friends learned a lot about this endangered species while having tons of fun!
Is there an endangered animal you really love? Or maybe a cause you’re passionate about? Try hosting your own themed party to raise awareness! We at Her Campus Mercer would love to see what you come up with! Post pictures of your party to our Facebook page and you could be featured on our site.