Posted on 06/14/2008 5:56:16 PM PDT by abb
Along the Emerald Coast, it's fairly common to see dolphins, manta rays, sea turtles and other marine animals. But manatees cause more of a stir.
That's why Niceville veterinarian Jenny Fortune and her husband were slow to identify what was swimming between them in hip-deep water near Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park recently.
"I'm looking at it, going ‘Oh my God, what is it?' " Fortune said. "These things are giant. Your brain just doesn't compute."
She said they first thought it might be a large manta ray. They quickly realized that the creature wasn't flat, but very, very bulky.
"It just kept going, it was like a train," she said. "Finally, at the tail end, you could see a flipper."
Manatees do visit local waters infrequently during the summer, according to Andy Garrett, a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
"It will be hit or miss," he said. "It won't be like traveling the waterways around South Florida."
They even mate here, he said.
Fortune, who called the FWC wildlife hotline after her manatee sighting, said she was told that there were five breeding manatees near Destin.
No one at FWC could confirm that conversation. However, officials said that folks who do see courtships often call it in out of concern for the animals.
Garrett said that several males will chase a lone female into shallow water, where she will wait until she is ready to receive them.
Typical calls involve folks worrying that the female is injured and other manatees are trying to help it by pushing it to shallow water.
"That's what they think they're seeing," Garrett said. "What they're actually seeing is the male trying to get underwater to mate with her and she's not letting them."
Daily News Staff Writer Wendy Victora can be reached at 863-1111, Ext. 1478.
SEEN A MANATEE?
Have you seen a manatee in local waters? Call Wendy Victora at 863-1111, Ext. 1478, or e-mail her at wendyv@nwfdailynews.com. The Daily News is also interested in publishing your photos or videos of manatees found in the area.
OK...
It was only a matter of time that a legit article would come across that we could legitimately use the Hugh Manatee!
Sorry... wasn’t paying attention. My wife walked into the room and I had to show her the Hugh Manatee! picture, then forgot where I was.
“They quickly realized that the creature wasn’t flat, but very, very bulky.”
As I type this reply, I “quickly realize” that I am sitting on front of a computer and not a skid-steer loader...
It’s been a couple of years since we’ve had a Hugh Manatee alert. We FReepers have been remiss in keeping up with Manatee news. Just look here!
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080613/BREAKING02/797414286
Manatee sexual predator arrested for failing to register
And more.
http://www.abc-7.com/articles/readnews.asp?articleid=19814&z=2
COLLIER COUNTY: It was an impressive sight Friday in Collier County as crews helped an injured 1,600 pound manatee and her young calf back into the wild
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6756699&version=6&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
Storms damage Manatee homes
Back in ‘92, I took my scouts snorkeling on the Seawanee river where threre were reports of Manatee sightings.
One of the older scouts raised the hue and cry Manatee, manatee, manatee!!...
Then after attracting all the attention of those nearby.....never mind, it’s just Bert but it sure looked big enough
http://www.bradenton.com/local/story/670547.html
Several Manatee projects avoid veto pen
http://www.bradenton.com/local/story/670548.html
Manatee Sheriff’s deputies’ salaries frozen
Apparently, this Manatee sexual predator is named Hirum. A brother of Hugh, perhaps?
http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2008/jun/11/summer-tennis-camp-manatee-middle-school-students/49389/http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2008/jun/11/summer-tennis-camp-manatee-middle-school-students/49389/
Manatee Middle School’s summer tennis camp
“Is anyone here a marine biologist!!”
Some updates this morning.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080615/NEWS/806150367/0/FRONTPAGE
Cupid’s employee convicted in Manatee prostitution sting
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080616/REALESTATE/806160438/1448
Manatee land market said to be iffy
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/15/elderly-man-missing-manatee/
Elderly Man Missing In Manatee
http://www.bradenton.com/local/story/677512.html
Foreclosures create ripple effect in Manatee
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