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Winter Is Coming!

Volunteers and Save the Manatee Club staff attend the Crystal River Manatee Festival in 2023 and educate visitors on manatee-safe practices, help process adoptions, and raffle off a gift basket.
Volunteers and Save the Manatee Club staff attend the Crystal River Manatee Festival in 2023 and educate visitors on manatee-safe practices, help process adoptions, and raffle off a gift basket.

By Gina McClain, Volunteer Specialist

One of my responsibilities (and enjoyments) is giving manatee presentations, in person and virtually, to many kinds of organizations: schools, libraries, and various and varied clubs. Recently, I stood with the members of the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club as we honored the legacy and impact of Jimmy Buffett. I felt great humility and pride in being part of our organization, which has done so much for manatees. As I presented the status of the Florida Manatee to these wonderful and caring people, I was reminded of just how much work we still must do.

Mark your calendars! November is not only Manatee Awareness Month, but also when events pick up:

In December, the manatees are in warm-water refugia, staying safe while we celebrate the holidays!

Happy New Year! We are back for our two largest events in January 2024:

Manatee season is nearly over, so enjoy some of these closing festivals in February 2024:

More Recent News

Although the staging is not finished, I’d like to share a special thank you to Bobbie Harvey, wife of the renowned artist André Harvey (1941-2018), for her generous donation of this wonderful sculpture. It now adorns our new facility, adding beauty and inspiration to our workspace.

A Year Of Growth And Gratitude

Our new facility has not only provided us with a solid foundation for our conservation efforts but also a beautiful space that continues to evolve.

Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latriostris) A subspecies of the West Indian Manatee. A Manatee mother nurses her young calf in the warm waters of the Ichetucknee River near the Mill Pond Spring. Florida.

SMC Initiatives To Improve Water Quality

Recognizing the importance of clean water for manatees, aquatic vegetation, and other aquatic species, as well as for humans.

Kee with a calf at Blue Spring in February 2021.

Manatee Kee’s Amazing Story

Manatee Kee’s story began in April 2009, when she was rescued as an orphaned calf on Florida’s Gulf Coast.