As cold fronts move through Florida, manatees are heading for warmer water, and state wildlife officials are asking boaters to slow down and watch for them.
Manatees have been documented in several lakes in the Harris Chain, including Griffin, Harris, Eustis, Dora and Beauclair. In July 2026, researchers with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute fitted a manatee with a GPS tag in Lake Griffin near Leesburg to study its movements through the Ocklawaha River system.
Manatees seek refuge in springs and other warm-water areas when water temperatures drop below 68 degrees, said Ashley LaVere, manatee management program coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Boaters may be more likely to encounter manatees as the animals travel to those winter habitats.
FWC recommends assigning someone aboard to watch for snouts, backs and tails breaking the surface. Circular ripples, known as manatee “footprints,” can also signal that one is swimming below. The agency reminds boaters to follow posted speed restrictions in manatee protection zones. FWC manatee protection zone maps
Anyone who spots an injured, sick, distressed or dead manatee can call FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.