| |
Manatee FAQS |
| |
- Will boating be prohibited in my
area if someone reports a manatee sighting?
No. Mobile Manatees Sighting
Network and Dauphin Island Sea Lab are interested in
learning more about how manatees live in Alabama waters.
We have no regulatory or management authority over use
of navigable waterways. We hope the information we
collect will help people and manatees to safely coexist
in local waters.
- Are manatees still endangered?
Yes. According to the
The Miami Herald on Dec. 6, 2007, the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission deferred the
manatee's status change, noting the need for better
methods to estimate abundance and explain the record
high 417 manatee deaths in 2006. This decision comes
after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a
5-yr review of the status of manatee populations in U.S.
waters, and suggested manatees be down-listed (removed)
from endangered to threatened status. At this time,
manatees remain listed as endangered species.
- Do alligators bother manatees?
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
alligators have been known to bite tagged manatees, and
they may prey on calves. Alligators are not known to be
a significant cause of mortality to adult manatees.
Boat strikes are the primary cause of mortality among
adult manatees.
- What do I do if I hit a manatee or find a stranded,
injured, or dead manatee?
If you think a manatee is
in distress, please report immediately to the
appropriate authorities.
Also report any harassment of manatees. If you hit
a manatee please report and provide as much information
as possible; you may remain anonymous.
Manatee showing recent
propeller injuries
Credit: Monica Ross,
Wildlife Trust
|
There are many other FAQs,
which already are thoroughly addressed on the internet.
Please search our links page
for websites containing additional information and FAQs.
We will continue to add to our list of FAQs, so please check
back often.
|
| |
|
|
