When Morgan Heim Came Face-to-Face With Manatees
Photographer Morgan Heim happened onto a pair of manatees while snorkeling in suburban Florida. See the resulting photo.
- By Delaney McPherson // Photo by Morgan Heim
- Wildlife Photos
- Jun 25, 2025
COEXISTENCE WITH NATURE has always been a central theme of conservation photographer Morgan Heim’s work. For this photo, while snorkeling in Hunter Springs Park in Crystal River, Florida, Heim was joined by a pair of manatees who were unaware of the suburban scene just above the surface.
“There doesn’t have to be this sense of conflict always,” Heim says. “[This is] a gentle reminder that we need to be thoughtful and mindful of how we navigate our spaces, because there can be special things right there.”
West Indian manatees are docile mammals that thrive in the Gulf Coast’s warm waters and spend their days eating seagrass. Previously listed as federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act, their status was downgraded to in 2017. Still, threats persist, including boat strikes, which kill an average of 100 manatees annually in Florida.
Heim hopes her efforts to document the impacts humans have on wildlife encourages people to consider who they share their space with. “There’s always a human story tied into how wildlife survive,” she says. “I treasure moments seeing a wild animal in its environment, but the reason I have a camera is to go further with it and think about what kind of neighbor we’re going to be.” See more of .
More from National Wildlife magazine and the National Wildlife Federation:
The Endangered Species Act at 50 & What’s Next for Wildlife »
Species Spotlight: Florida Manatee »
See Last Issue’s Featured Photo »
