Celebrate Manatee Appreciation Day the Last Wednesday in March

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Did you know manatees (sea cows) have their very own day? That’s right, the last Wednesday in March is Manatee Appreciation Day.

These animals may be kind of goofy-looking. Not exactly cute in any traditional sense of the word. But cute in a pudgy, bristly sort of way.

And no matter what you think of how they look, they still deserve respect as living creatures.

Apparently enough people agree to have granted them their day. Of course, it’s not an official day, but it still counts.

But this day isn’t the only time you get to celebrate manatees. Come November it will be Manatee Awareness Month!

 

Did You Know These Things About Manatees?

Manatees are mammals that live in slow-moving waters, like canals and coastal areas. Many live around Florida in the winter and move north (to about Virginia) and west (as far as Texas) during the summer. Sometimes one makes it as far north as Massachusetts

They are herbivores. That means they eat plants; in this case plants that grow on the sea floor.

Although they live in the water, and can stay down for as long as 20 minutes, they can’t breathe water. They have to come up for air. They come up more often when swimming than when resting.

There are three living species of manatee. The West Indian manatee, West African manatee and Amazonian manatee.

Mothers take care of their babies for up to two years.

Babies nurse from nipples under their mothers’ flippers (yes, basically in their armpits!).

When they’re not getting caught up in human activities, manatees live about 60 years.

 

 

Why Appreciate Manatees?

For one thing, manatees are endangered. They are protected under federal law, and hunting them is illegal. But humans are still their only known enemy.

People poach them for their meat and skins.

They get caught up in fishing lines and nets, suffering deep cuts. These injuries can get infected and be fatal.

Coastal development has taken away a lot of the places they live.

And the slow-moving animals usually lose collisions with boats. Many die after these crashes. Others are injured by boat propellers.

Florida has special speed zones in some waterways where manatees live. But fatal collisions still happen.

Chemicals in the water, from things like oil spills and other pollution, can weaken their immune systems.

Estimates put the number of manatees in the United States at around 4,800 (as of January 2014). That might sound like a lot, but it really isn’t. The good news is the number has been increasing. Just a few years ago there were only about 3,200.

We need to appreciate them today so future generations can keep appreciating them for years to come.

Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.

 

Ideas to Celebrate Manatee Appreciation Day

If you live somewhere with a large manatee population, there’s a good chance there will be local events near you. Consider going to one.

Many zoos also take part in animal themed days. So check with zoos near you to see if they have any special manatee-related programs on or near this day.

Even if you can’t get to any events, you can still celebrate. Start by learning more about these gentle animals.

You might be interested in these books:

• Manatees: The Gentle Giants: Features stunning photos
• The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation: Written by biologists researching manatees. Includes scientific information and more personal stories.

 

Get your kids involved, too! They can start learning here:

• West Indian Manatee on National Geographic Kids
• For young children, consider I’m a Manatee by John Lithgow. It’s a story of a boy who dreams he’s a manatee and has an underwater adventure.

 

Donate to a manatee conservation program. Consider one of these (but always check out a charity before sending money!)

• The Save the Manatee Club offers news and information about manatees, along with options to donate or volunteer. You can even adopt a manatee … And you get to choose which one to adopt!
• Defenders of Wildlife is another organization working to protect manatees.

 

And if you really love manatees, consider showing off that love by:

• Wearing manatee knee socks
• Using a manatee tea infuser
• Or snuggling with a stuffed manatee

 

You could even plan to decorate your Christmas tree with a Mom and Baby manatee ornament.

 

Future Manatee Appreciation Days

Since Manatee Appreciation Day is the last Wednesday in March, the actual date will change each year. To make sure you don’t miss one, here’s a quick list of when the day will be for the next few years.

• 2019 – Wednesday, March 27
• 2020 – Wednesday, March 25
• 2021 – Wednesday, March 31
• 2022 – Wednesday, March 30
• 2023 – Wednesday, March 29
• 2024 – Wednesday, March 27
• 2025 – Wednesday, March 26
• 2026 – Wednesday, March 25
• 2027 – Wednesday, March 31
• 2028 – Wednesday, March 29

 

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