Manatees

KatieMarie · 09-04-2011, 12:26 PM

Have any of you seen Manatees up close? We were fishing one day and a whole bunch of them came swimming up to the boat. There were probably about 10 of them and also a few babies. They were really awesome to watch.

LovingNature · 09-04-2011, 12:43 PM

Oh yes, we see them all the time and they are very friendly and will swim all around your boat. I don't think you are suppose to actually try and touch them though which is hard to do because they get so close that you could at times.

CatsEye · 09-04-2011, 09:30 PM

I would love to be able to see them up close. I've never been to Florida though. I have seen them in a zoo but that's not up close. I've heard they are very gentle.

LindaLou · 09-05-2011, 06:05 AM

Oh yes, we have seen them too. Being in Florida and fishing a lot in rivers that lead to the Gulf, you can help but to see them. They are called 'gentle giants' and are really awesome to watch.

jason · 09-05-2011, 11:03 AM

I've seen them a few times. The closest was when tubing down the Weeki Wachee. One swam under me, and came up about a foot behind me. They are pretty neat to watch if you have time.

Freebird11 · 09-27-2011, 02:33 AM

Cool Manatees facts : Grown manatees are about 10 feet long and weighs about 1,200 kilos. They never stop growing as long as you live! Their large lungs fill with air to breathe, the air and buoyancy aids heavy manatee. (The fat helps to float too much.) Most of the bones of mammals long has the interior space to produce red blood cells, but the bones of manatees. They are solid and heavy, which helps manatees to sink to the bottom to eat plants. Manatees are hard, grayish brown, wrinkled skin that feels like the skin of an elephant. Scientists say that long ago, manatees used to live on land and eat grass like elephants. Manatees have toenails like an elephant too. In addition, a manatee big nose is like a short trunk. Manatees use their nose to hold the plants and pull them into his mouth - like an elephant! Of course, manatees and elephants are very different. Since manatees live in the water today, not even his hind legs. Instead, have a thickness, paddle-like tail that helps them swim. Their front flippers are used for the handling and digging plants to eat. Manatees have small eyes, and you can not see far into the muddy water. They can smell and hear very well. Manatees communicate by making high-pitched sounds, and leave a message by putting a scent on a rock to find other manatees.

carmen · 09-27-2011, 03:22 PM

Never in my lifetime yet but that could always change. We are looking in the next few years for a good vacation get away and I know it has to include some water fun, maybe even swim with dolphins. Who knows? It will all depend on what the budget allows but Manatees sound fun too!

FreeWilly · 09-27-2011, 07:29 PM

I've seen them kind of close up. I was in a car driving in the Florida Keys to go fishing and the traffic was so backed up that some guy got out of his car and actually went and pee'd by the shore. There were two manatees that surfaced right in front of him in the water. It was funny that they startled him. I guess that's what he gets for being sick like that.