Come to our beaches and visit our manatees

We love our resident sea cows so much that we dedicated the last Wednesday of every March to Manatee Appreciation Day. Yet throughout Fort Myers’ islands, beaches and neighborhoods, there are ways to celebrate manatees every day of the year. 

 You can see them in the Fort Myers area all year round! Their location depends on the temperature as these mammals prefer warmer waters. 

During warmer months, you can see these slow-moving and naturally curious creatures in coastal waters, such as off shore from our beaches and throughout backbay waters. When cold fronts cool off the Gulf of Mexico, they make their way inland toward warmer waters that flow into the rivers and canals. Fort Myers’ Manatee Park is a great place to visit during the winter months. This warm water refuge helps keep our sea cow friends comfortable until they can venture back out into the Gulf waters.