How the Adopt-A-Manatee Program Works:
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Blue Spring State Park: Twenty manatees who regularly winter at Blue Spring State Park near Orange City, Florida, have been chosen as adoptees for one of Save the Manatee Club's three Adopt-A-Manatee programs. Blue Spring's natural spring maintains a year-round temperature of 72 degrees and is an attractive winter refuge for manatees who seek the spring waters when the surrounding river water temperatures become cold.
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Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park: Another Club adoption program is at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (HSWSP) in Homosassa, Florida. The park is a rehabilitation facility for manatees who are recovering from injuries before being released back into the wild. Five female manatees who cannot be released into the wild because of injuries or other life threatening reasons currently call HSWSP their home. |
Above, Ranger Wayne takes manatee "roll call" in the morning at Blue Spring State Park. |
| Tampa Bay: Five manatees frequently seen in the Tampa Bay area and along the west coast of Florida are up for adoption. These manatees have a known history because they have been followed over the years by researchers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Several of these manatees winter at the warm water discharge area of Tampa Electric Company. |
A view from the "Fishbowl" underwater observatory at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. |
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