Manatee Hunting

[Nanci]

Because of the recent cold weather, manatees have come in from the Gulf of Mexico to the springs to keep warm. Spring water is 72F when it comes out of the ground, which is much warmer than the gulf/river water! So my friends and I decided to go looking for them. We thought Homosassa Wildlife Park would be fool-proof, because they have a small population of captive manatees in rehab, so even if the wild manatees weren't there, we'd still be able to see some.

The park has a big spring which is fenced off from the river in warm weather, and the captive rehab manatees have free run of the spring and the run. There is a cool underwater viewing area. In the winter, the resident manatees are gated off and the spring run is opened to the wild manatees. Today, there were 50-100 in the spring and the spring run, and even more out in the river. People can boat, carefully, among the manatees out in the river, but the spring run is fenced off from boat traffic.

These are all wild. Many are hanging out by the bridge, harvesting lettuce which drifts through the fence from the captive manatees' lunch!

 

[Nanci]

The park also has a lot of native Florida wildlife which has been permanently injured. There are permanent residents and, behind the scenes, animals who are rehabbed for release. There are also two endangered species breeding programs; whooping cranes and red wolves.

Birds who aren't captives like it here, too! Many native birds live here of their own free will.

 

[Nanci]

There is also a modest native reptile house with lots of florida snakes and other herps.

The park used to be a zoo. When the state bought it, all the lions and tigers and monkeys were sold. Lucifer, the hippo, couldn't find a new home. No one wanted a 5000 pound ill-tempered eating machine. There was a problem- the park could only keep Florida natives. The governor of Florida proclaimed Lucifer an honorary citizen, making him the only native Florida hippo. He turns 54 next week, and will be having a birthday party, complete with two cakes from Publix!

 

[smigon]

Great pics! I swam with manatees once, what an experience. So gentle and graceful, beautiful creatures.

The Seaworld in San Diego (no flaming, please, due to the recent protesting and "Blackfish" movie) has manatees that have been damaged by boat propellers and are unfit to rehab and release back into the wild. The exhibit really opens your eyes to these beautiful creatures and how fragile our ecosystem can be.

 

[Nanci]

I swam with them, too, once when my daughter was a young teenager. It was so much fun! But cold. The babies are so curious and friendly. I have also encountered them at a county park over in Melbourne, where you could just walk right up to them at the water's edge, where they begged for food (plants).

 

[AliCat37]

Cool! What a neat park!
The hippo reminds me, did you know that capybaras are classified as fish by the Catholic Church?

 

[Nanci]

Yes, I just learned that last week! They're exactly like fish, with fur, that nurse their young.

 

[Nanci]

If I ever have money, I'm buying a telephoto lens. I can't get so many of the animals because I only have a 55mm. Like the squirrel pic- I was about ten inches away from him.

 

[vetusvates]

Nice photographs, Nanci.

 

[alan]

How big was that terrapin?
Oversight on my part, I was in Florida several times and I never went to see manatees.

 

[ZoologyGirl]

I saw manatees in florida bay when I was down in the everglades, but the water was so dark you couldn't see much except when they came up for air. That said, they came right up to the docks so I was a mere couple feet away from them, pretty neat. I'd love to see them at Homosassa!

 

[Nanci]

The terrapins were young, maybe 3-4"?

 

[Kyle M]

Wow! I've always had a soft spot for manatees, they're such incredible creatures. I'm a bit envious, I wish I could see them so close. Wonderful pictures as well, Nanci. Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Joba]

REally cool. Thanks for sharing these pics. When I first saw your thread title I got a pit in my stomach. This was much better

 

[smigon]

REally cool. Thanks for sharing these pics. When I first saw your thread title I got a pit in my stomach. This was much better

I did too! I thought of "hunting" in the sense that it wouldn't end well for the manatee! This was much better.

 

[Nythain]

Great shots! They *almost* make me miss FLA... Almost.

 

[Nanci]

This video is from my iPhone, medium quality. I am trying to upload a HD version, without success so far...

 

[Nanci]

This video is from the NEX camera. Converted to 720. I have no idea what they are doing!!

 

[Aozora]

Awesome photos! It is so cool to see wild manatees. When I was at the University of Miami, I saw wild manatees in our canals twice. Both times, I nearly fell in trying to get a better look at them. Nobody else even stopped, what a shame.

 

[tsst]

Great pics and videos Nanci! Wow the flamingos were loud.