Florida manatees are one of America's most imperiled large mammals, with watercraft collisions causing a significant proportion of deaths and non-lethal injuries that leave survivors permanently scarred.
Manatees struck by boats experience traumatic injuries including deep lacerations, fractured ribs, internal organ damage, and spinal injuries. Non-lethal strikes leave permanent disfigurement - the propeller scars visible on virtually every adult Florida manatee represent injuries that were survived but caused acute suffering during healing. Internal injuries from boat hulls can cause chronic pain and impaired mobility. Red tide poisoning causes neurological symptoms and drowning as manatees lose the ability to surface normally. Each boat strike is preventable: manatees stay in well-known warm water areas that are mapped, and speed zone regulations where enforced demonstrably reduce mortality.