Earth Day is a worldwide movement to support environmental protection. Today, we ask you to celebrate Earth and all the wonders of its natural resources and take action to care for our planet. You can help ensure health and safety for humans as well as the many plants and animals who share Earth with us. At Save the Manatee Club (SMC), we are often asked how to help manatees and their aquatic habitat. Whether you see manatees in your backyard or live miles away, here are several actions you can take to learn about manatees and their aquatic habitat and be a voice for the manatees on Earth Day and every day.
Featured Video
How do you know a manatee is nearby? What should you do if you see one? Watch our video with tips on how paddle responsibly and protect manatees. Check back as we will feature more videos throughout the day.
Learn About Manatees and Habitat Issues:
- Manatee Facts
- Manatee Migration
- Learn About Manatees Virtually: Schedule a presentation for your school or group.
- Algae Blooms, Seagrass Loss, and Manatee Deaths
- Indian River Lagoon Report Card from the Marine Resources Council
- Manatees and Climate Change
Enjoy Earth Day Activities:
- Send an Earth Day Ecard
- Download and Print an Earth Day Coloring Sheet compliments of artist Connie Roy
- Take the Quiz: Which Ocklawaha Animal are You?
- Watch Manatee Webcams and Highlight Videos
Be an Advocate:
- Click the following link to send a quick letter to President Biden and your U.S. senators and representative, urging them to come to the aid of manatees and the Indian River Lagoon.
- Please send a quick message to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, asking him to stop the degradation of Florida’s waterways and lead the way in safeguarding the aquatic environment for manatees, other wildlife, and for people, too.
- Urge Governor DeSantis to Restore The Great Florida Riverway
- Sign up for Save the Manatee Club’s free Action Alerts.
Watch for Manatees:
Please obey posted speed zones and watch out for manatees. Slow down, avoid shallow areas and seagrass beds where manatees might be feeding, and keep a sharp eye for manatee snouts, tails, or circular “footprints” on the water’s surface. Remember, if you see an injured or dead manatee, report it right away to FWC by calling 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio. If you’re staying on land, you can also report manatee injuries, or join the Manatee Sighting Network to provide information to researchers at savethemanatee.org/rescue or savethemanatee.org/sightings.