NFR: Watching the manatees at Blue Springs, FL. The water is a constant 72 degrees

M

marilynfl

Moderator
as the spring bubbles up from underground. When the weather and ocean/river waters gets cold, warm-blooded manatees congregate at natural springs around Florida. When we were there, 160 manatees had amassed. You could see many with propeller slashes across their backs and tails. They're mammals and need to surface for air, so they swim just below the surface and boats are constantly maiming/killing them.

To get a size scale reference, Larry and I were kayaking on Spruce Creek and a manatee went under his kayak. His kayak is 12 feet long and this manatee was at least a yard longer. They typically weight around 1,000 pounds and upward. This particular manatee didn't even cause a ripple as he/she went underneath the boat.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/2014%20Marilyn/Manatee2.jpg~original

Look toward the middle back of this image and you can see their grayish bodies:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/2014%20Marilyn/BlueSpringsManatee.jpg~original

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/Finer_Kitchens/2014%20Marilyn/Manatee3.jpg~original

Trivia: For Tarzan and Johnny Weissmuller fans, his African water scenes were filmed at Florida natural springs and Florida alligators stood in for African crocodiles. When they wanted clear, deep water, he was filmed at the grand Biltmore Hotel swimming pool in Coral Gables.

 
One time we had our boat in a large lake/canal I was water skiing

and suddenly a very large manatee came up right beside me as I was about to go. Now, it's not so easy to say to yourself "they are gentle giants" and convince yourself they are and that they are cute. I thought I might be able to walk on the water. Needless to say, our skiing was over for the day. We didn't realize they came that far up in the canals and sure wouldn't want to injure one of them. They have a tough time staying safe.

 
Cool! Snooty, my Manatee County mascot likes this! He is the first recorded birth

in captivity in the world. He is now 65 years old (See image link for more) I have yet to see him in person (shame on me!). However, I've seen manatees in the tanks chomping on cabbages at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota.

What fun to see them while kayaking! I've never seen one in the Gulf of Mexico but have heard of people swimming near them and being astonished.

Interesting facts about the old Tarzan movies. I was a big fan of Tarzan and loved going to the movies to see him. Not long after, the "new" Tarzan replaced him. Always wished I was Jane...

http://www.southfloridamuseum.org/theaquarium/snootycam.aspx

http://www.southfloridamuseum.org/TheAquarium/SnootyFacts.aspx

 
the Snooty birthday video is my alltime favorite feel-good thing to watch. I can't seem to find it

anymore. thanks for this new link. love me some Snooty!

 
Thanks Sandy -due to highways being sheets of ice we missed our flight

took 3 hours instead of 1 to get to the airport. Same thing happened to a friend of ours trying to make his flight home to Cal from Chicago - a normal 2 hour ride to the airport took 4 1/2 hours and he missed his flight.

Delta's penalty system (for cancellation) is horrid. Although it is a hub in Detroit we will do everything possible to avoid flying with them from here on in.

My parents were so disappointed - broke my heart

 
Loved Blue Springs! Lucky you - 160 manatee

It was not very cold when we visited Blue Springs in Feb., 2012, on our way from Orlando to Melbourne, but we did get to see a couple of manatee and the park is so beautiful. I've been wanting to try kayaking - great idea for next time we're there!

When we vacation on the gulf side, we usually stop at the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center, just north of Apollo Beach, on our way south from TPA. We always enjoy our visit there! Colleen

 
6 degrees of Delta? Anyone know someone who can help Deb rebook her tickets?

Or know somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, etc.? I'm sorry I don't and can't help you.

We've begun to only fly Spirit Vacations - flight and car - to Florida. We had Spirit cancel a flight on us several trips ago and because we had the car/vacation, they moved us to another flight. I have to say, to be fair, we went ahead to the airport and fought gently with agents for the consideration. I don't know if they will be so accommodating if it's our "mistake." But we were so impressed by the way the issue was handled, we'll continue to pay a little bit more for the car by booking together with the flight.

I was on I-94 headed west towards Ann Arbor yesterday morning to a doctor's appointment at the VA for my dad. It was a parking lot in both directions. I'm sorry you missed your flight. Colleen

 
Aw ((deb)), I feel so bad for you, your husband, and your parents! I'm sure it

stings like hell, but mother nature had a hand in this and you have to realize that.

I'm sure your luck will be better next time and thanks for the tip about Delta.

Take care.

 
Thank you Florisandy! Maybe it was for the best, our cat became very ill

yesterday and we had to take him to the vet.

Your kind words are appreciated!

 
Thank you!

He has had a UTI now for 2 weeks (clearing but not totally) and was just diagnosed with Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. He keeps getting almost all the way better and then has a major setback. We are at the vet nearly every few days. In fact, he was doing so much better (or else we would have cancelled our trip - I cancelled one the week before to stay with him) that our Vet said no problem to go and she was coming to our house everyday to give him his antibiotic while we were gone - how nice is that! (my niece was staying with him but she would've had trouble getting a pill down him alone).

He's on opiates once again for pain and I just don't think we are going to be through with this once his antibiotics are done (another day). So it's a very good thing we didn't go although I do know he would have been well cared for had we been away.

I'd better begin baking again - I never go to the Vet empty handed:)

 
I can send you some info

Much has been published in the last several years regarding the importance of environmental enrichment in cats with cystitis.

My email address is cindydvm at hotmail dot com.

Send me a message and I will reply with some of the best articles as attachments.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top