Fort Myers manatee enthusiasts on alert as temperatures drop

FORT MYERS, Fla.—Loretta and Patrick Morrison of Fort Myers have a deep love for manatees.

Kayaking is a cherished February tradition for the Morrisons, but this time, they weren't just sightseeing.

"Oh, my goodness. How can you not love a manatee?" said the Morrisons.

The couple kept a close eye on the water during their recent outing due to another cold snap moving in.

"They're already, are down, so having another shock might be the end for them, I suppose," said the Morrisons.

While they were out, they spotted a large manatee spout emerging from the water.

"We did see this great big manatees spout, come out of the water, you know, come out a few inches, and then it went back down. So we kind of hung in the area," said the Morrisons.

They watched, waited, and hoped everything appeared normal.

"We understand that once they break water, you know, take a breath," said the Morrisons.

"Then they go down, and then they'll stay down for a few minutes until they need to come back up again," they added.

Patrick Rose, executive director of the Save the Manatee Club, emphasized the importance of spotting unusual behavior in manatees.

"Look for any manatees that might be having difficulty either keeping their balance or breathing more rapidly, if they're breathing once every minute or less, that manatee is in trouble," said Rose.

With an upcoming cold front, stressed or poor-conditioned manatees will seek warmer waters.

"Those that are more stressed and already in poor body condition, they're going to stay in the warmer water longer, because they really can't even take that cold," said Rose.

As temperatures drop into the 30s overnight, the risk increases.

"Colder water, even though it might not be so cold it would kill them," Rose explained.

His message to the community is straightforward.

"Be that good Samaritan and report any sick or injured manatees," said Rose.

The Morrisons are committed to helping.

"Maybe we should come back tomorrow," they said.

The community is encouraged to stay vigilant and report any distressed manatees to help protect these gentle creatures.