Yesterday we wanted Cape Cod Girlfriend to see the Manatees at Blue Springs State Park. We knew there would be a lot of them because our night temps have been falling into the low 30's. This usually happens around this time every year. The most I had ever seen was maybe 150-200. Yesterday there were
293!!!
Manatees spend most of their time eating plants and huddling together for warmth.
Hundreds of people stand around and watch and wonder.
I love seeing cars in the parking lot from Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa. It's such a rare Florida experience.
The Florida subspecies can live to be 60 years old. They have one baby at a time, are pregnant for 12 months and baby stays with Mama for 12-18 months.
Here is proof that we don't spend the ENTIRE winter in flip-flops. Sorority Girl enjoys pulling on the boots every now and then.
Oh look. A loner!
The local ABC news was there filming and asked us if we could be interviewed. Mr Sunshine was shown on the 5pm newscast. Under his name it said "Tourist". They were fooled by the New England Patriots sweatshirt!
They asked us about seeing so many Manatees. They were just downgraded from Endangered to Threatened Species. Their biggest threat is from speeding motorboats. Without the protection of the Endangered listing their number could drop as much as 50% in the next 45-50 years.
My husband has a lovely car lot/golf course Winter tan. I'm glad they cut me out of the shot. I'm as pale as Frostina The Snow Woman. That's my grey, pasty head in the lower left.
7 comments:
I love that you were interviewed on the news like that!
I love that the manatees are now merely (?) threatened!
Manatees are magic. I have a friend whose swum twice now, in Florida, with them. Yum.
Frostina the Snowman. LOL!
Love the manatee pictures! How cool!
Have to answer you here on your blog because your email isn't enabled on your blog.
Pick up Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss. It will convince you beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are many previous lives.
Also? Enable your email!!
I love Manatees! When driving home to Clearwater from FSU back in the 70's, I often stopped in Crystal River just to sit watching the manatees. It was so peaceful - a manatee is a perfect companion with whom to relax and decompress after a grueling academic term. I'm glad their numbers are growing, but it's a double-edged sword? Are you fearful that as their numbers increase and they are no longer 'endangered' and somewhat protected, they will once again be vulnerable and their numbers will decline?
This makes me want to go to Florida!!
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