Manatee Viewing Center

Celebrate the Manatee Every Day in November!

11/20/2022

Greetings! It’s that special time of the year again when we celebrate manatees because November is Manatee Awareness Month! Yes, as the temperatures are now cooling down, all manatees begin seeking the naturally warmer spring waters in Florida. And these springs stay at 72 degrees Fahrenheit...

Manatee Facts for Fun – Part 3

02/27/2019

A Florida manatee (West Indian Manatee) enjoying the warm spring waters at Crystal River as a paddle boarder observes. Greetings! This is my third blog installment talking about some very cool and awesome manatee facts. Did you know that manatees are actually...

What Do Manatees and Stingrays have in Common?

12/29/2016

Two children from the Victory Martial Arts Academy in Apollo Beach, Florida enjoy a wonderful experience as they observe a few cownose rays at the new Stingray Touch exhibit found at the Manatee Viewing Center. Photo Courtesy (Lois Kindle) Greetings and...

TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center Opens for its 30th Season!

11/15/2016

The Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center is open with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected during its 30th season now through April 15th. Admission is free. November is Manatee Awareness Month! Photo Courtesy – Tampa Electric Greetings! I have some awesome news...

November is Manatee Awareness Month!

11/02/2016

November is Manatee Awareness Month! The Manatee is Florida’s official state marine mammal. Photo – Courtesy David Schrichte Greetings! I have some great news for you … November is Manatee Awareness Month! We manatees are endangered marine mammals. We are...

Discover Manatee Season … Starting Today!

11/15/2015

An artist’s rendering of the manatee viewing center under construction by Florida Power & Light at its plant at Riviera Beach. This center is slated to open in February 2016. (Courtesy Florida Power & Light / Sun Sentinel) I have some...

Happy Manatee Appreciation Day!

03/25/2015

Hey – it’s time to celebrate! Today, March 25th is Manatee Appreciation Day! I’ve made a giant seagrass cake to celebrate this awesome occasion! Manatee Appreciation Day is dedicated to raising awareness about us manatees. Manatee celebrations occur in Florida, the Caribbean,...

Discover the Revamped Manatee Viewing Center at Apollo Beach

10/22/2014

Great News! The Manatee Viewing Center at Tampa Electric’s Apollo Beach has a cool new upgrade for you. It is slated to open its 29th season on Saturday, November 1st. And with the start of its 2014–2015 season, the facility will...

2014 Florida Manatee Population

06/18/2014

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), as of January 2014, the manatee population was approximately 4,831. Their population count is recorded from aerial observation. These manatee aerial surveys are conducted during the winter season. This is because warm-blooded manatees...