Meet Florida’s Gentle Giants: Enjoyable Details About Manatees Earlier than Manatee Season Begins

October 13, 2025

As the countdown continues to manatee season in Weeki Wachee, wildlife lovers are gearing up for one in all Florida’s most magical experiences. Paddling by the crystal-clear waters of the Weeki Wachee River with Get Up and Go Kayaking Weeki Wachee at Mary’s Fish Camp offers you the prospect to see these light giants up shut. But earlier than you arrive, it’s enjoyable to get to know the manatees with a couple of fascinating information!

1. Manatees Are Gentle Giants

Also often called sea cows, manatees can weigh as much as 3500 kilos but are extremely light and slow-moving creatures. Their calm demeanor makes them excellent for remark throughout clear kayaking excursions, the place you’ll be able to float quietly close by with out disturbing them.

2. They Love Warm Water

Manatees are delicate to chilly and migrate to Florida’s springs as temperatures drop within the winter. When water temperatures drop under 68 levels manatees are prone to hypothermia, chilly shock and even dying. The Weeki Wachee River is spring-fed which implies the water comes from underground and stays a constant 72 levels all 12 months lengthy. Making the Weeki Wachee River a super spot the place manatees collect to remain heat and feed on considerable aquatic vegetation. This is why the river turns into a hotspot beginning November 15, the official starting of manatee season.

3. They Are All About That Plant Based Lifestyle

Manatees are herbivores, spending as much as 8 hours a day grazing on underwater vegetation like seagrass and different submerged aquatic vegetation. During your clear kayaking journey, you may even catch a glimpse of a manatee munching peacefully slightly below the floor of the water!

4. Manatees Have Big Hearts

Literally! A manatee’s coronary heart is roughly the dimensions of a basketball, and these animals have a lifespan of fifty–60 years in captivity. Their gradual, swish actions replicate their calm nature—making them the proper wildlife ambassadors for Florida’s rivers.

5. Guardians of the River

Did you recognize that the Get Up and Go Kayaking Weeki Wachee guides are skilled within the Guardian Guides Program by the Save the Manatee Club! This certification ensures that excursions are carried out safely and ethically, defending manatees whereas educating guests on conservation efforts.

Get Ready for Manatee Season

Whether you’re a first-time customer or a seasoned kayaker, understanding manatees earlier than your journey enhances the expertise. By studying about their behaviors, diets, and habitats, you’ll respect each encounter on the Weeki Wachee River much more.

Pro tip: Bring your sense of surprise and a digital camera, however all the time respect these light giants’ house. Manatees are wild animals, and observing them responsibly ensures they continue to be part of Florida’s waterways for generations to return.

Manatee season is simply across the nook—mark November 15 in your calendar and prepare to glide alongside Florida’s most iconic marine mammals on a transparent kayak tour with Get Up and Go Kayaking Weeki Wachee!