Manatees were here before mastodons stomped down Florida grasses.
Before Indians inhabited prime seaside real estate. Even before Ponce de Leon got himself killed wandering around Florida looking for the Fountain of Youth.
Manatees pre-date Disney and interstates
Yes, way back, some 45,000,000 years ago before Interstate 75 even existed and Walt Disney had yet to invade Orlando. West Indian manatees gathered then and now in shallow Florida waters during the winter months. These peaceful creatures swim slowly munching peacefully on sea grasses and water hyacinths.
J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island has a new look at this ancient Florida resident. See their manatee exhibit tucked in a corner inside their free Visitor/Education center. The center is a large round room loaded with worthwhile exhibits and a delightful book store. The Center hours: 9-5 from January through April and 9-4 May through December.
Marvelous Manatee exhibit at “Ding” Darling NWR, Sanibel Island
Did I mention the fact that these large aquatic mammals bother no one? Normally, you’d think that would help survival.
But now, after surviving 45,000,000 years a predator has arrived on the scene, slicing and dicing manatees with cruel efficiency even the saber-toothed tiger could not match.
Boat propellers.
A table at the new manatee exhibit lays out the forensic evidence why one manatee died. Among the big clues – boat propellers.
Fast boats. Slow manatees. The combination is a disaster in the making. Manatees that are not killed carry scars from boat encounters. Manatee zones exist in many coastal counties – areas were boaters are supposed to slow down to idle speed.
But wasn’t the point of getting those big-assed motors to go fast? You better believe it. So it comes as no surprise to you, dear readers, that the Pacific Legal Foundation, on behalf of the Save Crystal River, Inc. (pro boater) wants the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to down list manatees, thus ensuring the manatee zones will be gone and they can be run over at will.
Currently manatees are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 along with the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978.
Read more at Save the Manatee Club web site.
View manatees in Florida
If you’ve never seen a manatee, now is the time. Winter months they congregate in warm rivers. Here are some viewing opportunities:
The park staff at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City counted 302 manatees on Dec. 31, 2012. The St. John’s River water is shallow. Viewing is excellent. But if you can’t get there right away, then check out the free wild manatee cams at Blue Spring State Park.
Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center has an education building and plenty of manatees during the winter months.
Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River is not only beautiful but a favorite warm water hangout for manatees.
Notice I use the word “view” – so much healthier for the manatees than swimming or diving with them (a big tourist industry in Crystal River, please refuse to participate).
Imagine you are sitting in your living room, munching on a healthy salad made of organic greens, when suddenly a snorkeler drops down from the ceiling and gets right in your face. Then he starts snapping pictures, waving his hands and more snorkelers arrive. They start poking you. A nightmare that happens to manatees every day in Crystal River. Mothers, children, fathers, all this stress for manatees even before they leave the safe “living room” (manatee zone) and encounter boat propellers.
Speaking of salads, manatee programs at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa include feeding a whole lot of lettuce to resident manatees (injured and orphaned manatees are rehabilitated and some are permanent residents). The times are 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30p.m. daily.
Outdoor benches provide a viewing area. Also get a look at manatees underwater by going down inside the Fish Bowl underwater observatory.
The saber-tooth tigers and mastodons are gone, extinct. Manatees live on, wild and free, and their existence is dependent on you and me.
Note this advice from Save the Manatee: Call 10888-404-3922, #FWC or *FWC on your cell phone or use VHF Channel 16, marine radio, if you see an injured, dead, tagged or orphaned manatee, or if you see a manatee being harassed.
FOR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
Lucy Beebe Tobias is the author and illustrator of “Mary Margaret Manatee: the adventures of a young Florida manatee” a positive story book for 4-10 year olds that includes a study guide in the back.
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