Manatees leave warm-water sites when people approach them, encircle them, pursue them, or otherwise disturb and harass them to the point that they become uncomfortable.

(ENN) -- Manatees have a new sanctuary to resort to when they are feeling harassed by eager tourists at Three Sisters Spring at Kings Bay in Crystal River, Fla., reports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The sanctuary, which was set aside on a temporary, emergency basis last November, covers less than one-fourth of an acre. It allows manatees to retreat from people during their long winter stay in the area. All waterborne activities are prohibited in the area from Nov. 15 through March 31 of each year.

"The Fish and Wildlife Service believes a sanctuary is the only solution for protecting manatees in Three Sisters Spring given the level of harassment that has been observed and reported here," said the Southeast Regional Director Sam D. Hamilton.

"While we understand the public's enthusiasm for seeing and enjoying these magnificent creatures, continuous human interaction with manatees forces them to leave warm-water areas and can create serious problems for these animals that cannot tolerate cold water."

More than 250 manatees winter in Kings Bay and there are now six manatee sanctuaries in the Crystal River's headwaters at Kings Bay that protect approximately 39 acres of essential manatee habitat.

The sanctuaries were created after the Fish and Wildlife Service received numerous reports of harassment for concerned citizens, researchers and wildlife managers.

Robert Turner, the service's manatee recovery coordinator, says that manatees use the upper Crystal River area as a refuge to escape the cold.

"On especially cold days, manatees seek out and remain at warm-water sites until the weather warms up," he said. "People wanting to interact with manatees can and do disturb them during these critical times."

Manatees leave these sites when people approach them, encircle them, pursue them, or otherwise disturb and harass them to the point that they become uncomfortable. If manatees are harassed to the point where they cannot find adequate warmth and food, they may die from exposure to the cold.

The public is asked to obey boating speed limits in manatee zones, not to feed the creatures and avoid interaction with them that disrupts their normal patterns of activity.

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