Sea Cows!

I have always loved Manatee's.  I am not sure what the draw is.  Perhaps it is their gently nature.  Perhaps it is that they look so "cuddly", at least for a life form that lives in the water.  Manatees are often referred to as Sea Cows.  They are truly a gentle species that, for the most part, enjoy a fairly laid back life.  They tend to live along coastal areas and in rivers in warmer areas.  In Florida, I have had a chance to see these creatures in their natural habitat. There is something amazing about watching animals in their natural setting, uncaged.

I have also taken my daughter to see the Manatee Exhibit at SeaWorld.  Like me, she could spend a lot of time just watching them swim and eat.  It is especially fun to watch the babies interact with their momma's.  If you are in Central Florida though and would like to see them in a more natural setting the rivers are a great place to start.  During the cooler months, they flock to the St John's River and one of their favorite "hang outs" is Blue Springs State Park.  In warmer months, they tend to be found along the coast, in rivers, and often in boat docking areas.  These wonderful sea cows love to spend their days sleeping, swimming, and eating.

The Manatees are on the Endangered Species list.  Part of this is due to their gentle nature and slower speeds of swimming.  Manatees are somewhat curious and love to get close to boats and docks.  They are strong swimmers, but tend to take life slowly.  Often you will see Manatees with scars on their backs and chunks missing from their "tail".  This is typically due to the fact that they move slowly and often get too close to boats.

If you ever have a chance to see these wonderful animals, I highly recommend it.  They are just so darn cute and lovable!