How much do you really know about manatees?

Sure, they’re cute, and Manatee County is named after them.

But did you know that the marine mammals are smart?

Snooty at the Parker Aquarium in Bradenton, the oldest living manatee in captivity at age 66, hoists himself up on the side of his pool on command for veterinary visits.

Buffett and Hugh at Mote Marine in Sarasota perform tasks on command that allow staff to weigh them. Hugh weighs a mere 1,199 pounds while Buffett tips the scales at 1,855 pounds. They also push paddles to “predict” Super Bowl winners, a behavior used in research on how they perceive boat engine sounds.

Did you know that manatees are related to elephants?

That fishermen back in the day used to think they were mermaids?

That they’re vegetarians?

That they have their own state proclamation signed by the governor declaring that November is Manatee Awareness Month? “The manatee is a distinctive, valuable, and beloved natural resource. Cooperation among Florida’s public, private, and governmental organizations is vital to saving manatees, and organizations and individuals must continue working together for the long-term survival of the manatee.”

Did you know that manatees – not dolphins – are the state’s official marine mammal?

That they’re defenseless against cold, red tide, watercraft and disruptions to their habitat?

That they’re endangered?

On two days in January this year, researchers counted 4,824 manatees in Florida waters.

Last year, 830 manatees died in Florida waters, seven of those in Manatee County, many from boat strikes. That’s 17 percent of the state’s known manatee population. So far this year, another 315 have died.

November is a critical time for manatees because that’s when they start returning to warm-water winter refuges in Florida and many seasonal manatee protection zones go into effect.

Here are some tips to make sure that manatees stay safe, for their own sake, and so that the next generation of humans can be charmed and fascinated by them.

Manatee safe boating tips

• Wear polarized sunglasses on the water to better see manatees in your path.
• Follow posted signs for slow-speed manatee protection zones.
• Keep your distance from manatees – never feed, chase, touch or harass them.
•Stow trash and fishing line when under way. Marine debris that accidentally blows overboard can become ingested by or entangled around manatees.
• If you observe a manatee mating herd - several manatees gathered as males vie to mate with a female - watch from at least 100 feet away. Coming any closer might disrupt the animals' natural mating behavior or put people into harm's way.

When to call for help

Call 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), *FWC or #FWC on a cell phone, or use VHF Channel 16 on marine radios to report:
• A manatee with a pink or red (fresh) wound;
• A dead manatee;
• A manatee tilting to one side, unable to submerge, having trouble breathing or acting strangely;
• A manatee calf by itself with no adults around for an extended time;
• Anyone harassing a manatee in any way;
• Boaters speeding in a manatee zone;
• A manatee entangled in monofilament, crab-trap lines or other debris. Do not attempt to remove debris by yourself; it may be embedded underneath the skin, and only a trained veterinarian can adequately assess and treat wounds.

Manatee freebies

Florida shoreline property owners can request a free aluminum dock sign and boat decal from the Save the Manatee Club that features the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s hotline number, 1-888-404-3922, for reporting sick and injured manatees.

Also, boaters can request a free Please Slow: Manatees Below waterproof banner to display that allows quick communication with other boaters whenever manatees are present.

Free boater awareness posters are also available to dive shops, marinas, businesses, schools and libraries interested in displaying them in storefronts and high traffic areas to help educate others about manatee conservation. The message says, Navigate with Care, Manatees are There, and encourages the boating community to boat safely.

E-mail education@savethemanatee.org, or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646).

Download a free Manatee Alert App at http://bit.ly/15EYen6.