![A Florida manatee and calf swim together.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161224190750im_/https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/styles/interior_place_photo/public/interior-place/photos/manatees-michael_buchanan-noaa.jpg?itok=H4XHLawC)
November is Manatee Awareness Month; but no matter what time of year it is, manatees deserve to be celebrated. These amazing creatures fulfill a unique niche by serving as indicator species for ecosystems across the United States. Because of their reliance on the health of their habitat, manatees often act as a signal of their environment’s well-being. NOAA photo by Michael Buchanan.