Manatees are large, gray-brown aquatic mammals with bodies
that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. These gentle and slow-moving creatures grow
to an average adult length of 10 feet and weigh an average of 1,000 pounds. Manatees
are found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal
areas. In the United States, manatees are concentrated in Florida in the winter, but can
be found in summer months as far west as Alabama and as far north as Virginia and the
Carolinas. They have no natural enemies, but loss of habitat is the most serious threat
facing manatees today. Most human-related manatee deaths occur from collisions with
motor boats.