Part 8: Florida

Numerous species of whales and dolphins inhabit the waters around Florida Peninsula, but seeing them is difficult. Except for bottlenose dolphins, they all live far offshore. There are no regular whalewatching trips. Occasional pelagic trips for birdwatchers are very expensive, and your chances of seeing any mammals are very low. But, of course, there are manatees.

Florida manatees, Crystal Springs, Florida.

Manatee, Crystal Springs.

Florida is the best place in the world to see manatees. In winter, you can swim with them in brackish bays around Crystal Springs, or at many other relatively warm springs in northern Florida. Manatee family, Crystal Springs.

Swimming with manatees.

Manatee, Crystal Springs.

Huge Atlantic tarpons (Megalops atlanticus, below left) and many other fishes are an extra attraction at those springs.

Manatee, Crystal Springs.

Atlantic tarpon, Crystal Springs.

Atlantic tarpon, Crystal Springs.

Friendly manatees, Cape Canaveral National Seashore.

Manatees are often incredibly friendly, and enjoy having their backs scratched. Such wonderful encounters can happen in summer, too.

Friendly manatee, Cape Canaveral National Seashore.

Riding two manatees, Cape Canaveral.

Petting a manatee, Cape Canaveral.

State law says it's OK to play with a friendly manatee as long as you don't put both hands on it. But it's also OK to put your hands on two different manatees at the same time.

Petting a manatee, Cape Canaveral.

Playing with manatees, Cape Canaveral.

Manatee with a newborn calf, Virginia Key.

All manatees are kind of cute and interesting to watch, but the newborn babies are just wonderful.

Manatee with a newborn calf, Virginia Key.

Twin baby manatees, Virginia Key.

Manatee calf suckling, Virginia Key.

On rare occasions, manatees have twins. Females have milk glands in their armpits.

Manatee calf in a group, Virginia Key.

Manatee twins (boy above, girl below), Virginia Key.

Newborn manatee, Virginia Key.

Hand-fed manatee, Fort Lauderdale Marina.

Life ain't easy for Florida manatees. Recreational boats kill a lot of them. Most adults have horrible scars from boat propellers. Some get stranded in city canals. Their habitat is increasingly urbanized. Newborn manatees have bristles on their backs. Virginia Key.

Manatee in a city canal, University of Miami campus.

Manatee courtship, Ichetucknee Springs State Park.

We can only hope that these creatures will survive our presence.

Manatee courtship, Ichetucknee Springs State Park.

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