Where are the manatees near Kennedy Space Center?

NASA's Kennedy Space Center shares boundaries with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Florida's Atlantic coast. A parent and a baby manatee come up for air beneath the branches of a mangrove in a waterway at Kennedy.

Where are the manatees now?

Florida manatees are found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, bays, estuaries and coastal water ecosystems of the southeastern United States. They can live in fresh, brackish, or salt water. Manatees prefer waters that are about one to two meters (3-7 feet) deep.

Where are the Florida manatees right now?

Crystal River is the #1 place to see manatees in Florida! It is known for its many natural springs. Three Sisters Springs, located in Crystal River, is one of Florida's most popular springs and is known to have hundreds of manatees resting inside of it at one time!

Where can I see manatees in Brevard?

To see manatees, of course. Just right outside Brevard, manatees like to gather at the C-54 (canal) by Buffer Preserve Road in Indian River County. A manatee overlook area marks the spot where the gentle giants gather.

Where can I see manatees in Florida in 2021?

TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach

Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center is a designated manatee sanctuary to which large numbers of manatees in Florida return annually to the warm discharge waters of the Big Bend Power Station.

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What time of day is best to see manatees?

The Three Sisters Springs is a quieter viewing and swimming spot but wherever you are, the best time to be with the manatees is early morning 6 am to 8.30 am when they are most active.

What is the best time of year to see manatees in Florida?

The peak season for observing manatees is November through April, and the local manatee population swells to its largest size between December and February. You can spot manatees in our waterways all year round, but the population is much smaller during the summer months.

Are there manatees in Cocoa Beach Florida?

Cocoa Beach is the home to the Thousand Islands Conservation Area, a beautiful 338-acre preserve consisting of natural and modified islands along the Banana River. Gorgeous views abound through a network of mangrove tunnels and saltwater marshes. This area is home to manatees, dolphins, and a variety of aquatic birds.

Are manatees in Satellite Beach?

SATELLITE BEACH — The Blue Springs manatees are better-known, but more than 130 manatees are huddling for warmth at the DeSoto canal in Satellite Beach. Hundreds of people are flocking to the Space Coast canal to see the manatees gather to wait out the current cold snap away from the chilly Indian River Lagoon.

Where can I swim with manatees in Florida for free?

There's only one place in North America where you legally swim with manatees, and that's in the Crystal River area— located about 90 minutes north of Tampa, on the west coast of Florida. The headwaters of Crystal River are known as Kings Bay, where the water temperature is a consistent 72 degrees year-round.

Are the manatees in Crystal River now?

The manatee season at Crystal River NWR begins in mid-November and ends in late March. This is when the manatee sanctuaries go into effect. During the winter months, manatees come to the springs of Crystal River NWR to conserve the energy necessary to survive the cold Gulf waters.

Do alligators eat manatees?

Actually, while alligators may bite the satellite tags attached to manatees and occasionally prey on manatee calves, they don't ordinarily bother manatees. Attacks by alligators are very rare, and boat strikes still remain the prime cause of death among adult manatees.

Can you see manatees at Apollo Beach?

6990 Dickman Road, Apollo Beach

An expansive boardwalk gives visitors a great view of manatees lolling about in the warmth. The manatees share their bathing grounds with skates, rays, and spinner sharks, which get their name from their habit of leaping into the air and doing pirouettes.

Can you touch manatees in Florida?

Manatees are also protected, which is why there are so many rules including: you can't touch their face, chase them, or kick your feet in the water near them. And experiencing them up close gives people a new found love for the gentle creature.

Why is the manatee viewing center closed?

It's been closed since March 2020 because of the pandemic. At 10 a.m. Monday, it will reopen after about 19 months. It's located right across from the Big Bend Power Plant in Apollo Beach. This time around, there will be safety protocols in place.

Where are the manatees in Indian Harbor Beach?

Another spot to see the manatees is just south of Brevard County, the C-54 canal has a manatee overlook area on Buffer Preserve Road in Indian River County. During warmer weather, manatees gather at Haulover Canal at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge; there's a $10 vehicle fee to enter the refuge.

Are the manatees still at DeSoto Park?

According to the Visit Brevard website, “the manatees are there for anyone to watch and enjoy, and appreciate in their strange beauty.” To see the manatees, visit 499 Desoto Pkwy, Satellite Beach.

Are there manatees in Cape Coral canals?

In the winter months manatees congregate in the warm coastal waters of Florida, and are often seen in the canals of Cape Coral. Rarely are they found in waters colder than 60 degrees F. Manatee's are herbivores (plant eating), spending most of their time eating bottom vegetation from the shallow waters where they live.

When can you see manatees in Cocoa Beach?

The best time to observe manatees in Central Florida runs from November through March.

Can you swim with manatees Cocoa Beach?

Our tour offers a unique experience that allows guests to swim in the same lagoon that wild dolphins and manatees freely roam in. This is an ethical and eco-friendly option that will give you an opportunity to see wildlife up close.

Where can I see alligators in Cocoa Beach?

If you want a true feel of what Cocoa Beach was before civilization came to this area, go to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. You can see amazing wild life. We saw many alligators, several birds on the 5 miles drive.

Are there alligators in Crystal River in Florida?

There are alligators in Crystal River. They live in King's Bay, and the surrounding canals. They are also found in Three Sisters Spring. Alligators can live in any body of freshwater in Florida.

Where can I see manatees in Fort Lauderdale?

Manatees have been known to be spotted at Hugh Taylor Birch Park in Fort Lauderdale along with lots of other wildlife. It's a great place to go with the family.

How much does it cost to swim with manatees in Crystal River?

How much do manatee tours cost? Our public manatee tours start at $59.95 and go up to $65 for peak manatee season (November-April). Private manatee tours are $449 for a boat that holds up to six people, larger private manatee tours can be arranged for an additional $75 per person.