Lots and lots of pictures at the link.
Posted on 01/09/2014 5:08:48 PM PST by Islander7
APOLLO BEACH (FOX 13) -
With temperatures dropping in both the air and the water, dozens of manatees have returned to one of their favorite spots for the winter: The warm waters of the TECO power plant in Apollo Beach.
At least 100 manatees were visible Saturday in the canal alongside the Big Bend facility, where discharge saltwater from the power plant warms the water to summer-like temperatures.
According to TECO, the manatees begin to arrive when water temperatures in the bay drop below 68 degrees. Thermometers on the site indicated the bay was at about 65 degrees this weekend, but the waters neat the plant's outflow pipes was 80 degrees or warmer.
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxtampabay.com ...
Watching to see who will be the first to say it. Not me. Not me.
ROFL
10 years ago I went to Crystal River and swam with the manatees in February. It is difficult to explain the experience. Amazing.
LOL, all of us looked like human manatees (or whales) in our wet suits except for one rather well built girl about 18-20.
Some of those fish don’t look like manatees!
About 3 miles from my house.
Seeking warmer waters? Nonsense, everyone knows the planet is heating up uncontrollably due to coal, Dodge Durangos, and incandescent light bulbs..
I see the prop scar on that one. Now that the Manatees have gotten used to the warm water the EPA will shut down the plant and the Manatees will probably die.
I assume this plant is still coal fired...was in the 70s when I was a TECO customer, living in south Tampa...those folks across the bay in St. Pete took a hit in those days...Florida Power...fuel oil...
Okay. Maybe not first but, manatee steaks. Eagle chicken wings. It could go on and on..............
Suddenly, from behind us, swimming north, a huge manatee swims by like 20 feet off shore.
We jumped in the water and swam next to it for about a minute.
He (she) made eye contact with both us, which was really cool.
Still makes me feel sad, though.
I don't think a manatee can survive in the open ocean like that.
I suspect it looks like a giant ham sandwich to barracuda and other coastal predators.
I have no idea where it came from.
We have no manatees in Fort Lauderdale that I know about, either in the ocean or in the Intracoastal Waterway.
Actually, I used to date a manatee. But I had to go into the world and do noble things for the good of all. And she could not come because she didn’t speak French.
Sort of sad, in a way.....
Beer Fried manatee
1 lb manatee
flour
Trim meat and cut into finger sized pieces. Soak pieces in beer overnight. Drain. Deep fat fry until golden brown.
That place is wonderful! We go there about 4 times when it’s open.
My in laws live very close to the plant. I have taken my kids there many times. Besides manatees, you’ll see snook, tarpon, redfish, bonnet head sharks, lemon sharks and cobia.
Very cool.
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