Where the Wild Things Are
Two If by Sea
By Diane Bair and Pamela Wright
See the Gentle Manatee Just as our eyes became adjusted to the murky underwater light, we
felt a surge. We were suddenly nose-to-snout with a 10-foot, 1,000-pound
West Indian manatee. After the initial adrenaline rush, we slowly relaxed. Giant sea
cows—as many as 60—circled, nudged, and rubbed up against us.
Amanda (above) is the oldest
West Indian manatee in residence
at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park
To know
a manatee is to love a manatee: These silly-putty-faced giants have
tootsie-roll bodies, lumpy snouts, and whiskered lips. The are gentle,
playful, and friendly.  | | It's a Fact!
Adult manatees feed for six to eight hours every day!
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Each winter, starting around mid-November, one of the largest herds
of manatees in the United States migrates from the Gulf of Mexico to the warm,
spring-fed waters of the Crystal River and Homosassa River, on Florida's Gulf
Coast. Approximately 250 to 300 manatees join a resident population of
about 30.
To Observe Manatees
or Swim Alongside Them:Families can visit Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, (352) 628-2311, to
view manatees at the underwater observatory. West Indian manatees are an endangered species, and Homosassa Springs serves as a rehabilitation center and refuge for those who have been orphaned or injured in the wild. For more adventure, sign up
for a guided snorkeling excursion. There are several local outfitters,
including Birds Underwater, (352) 563-2763, and Crystal Lodge Dive Center,
(352) 795-6798. Tours cost about $30. You can also watch from the boat, if
the kids don't want to snorkel. Manatees congregate from
mid-November through mid-March. The area is about 75 miles north of Tampa. |
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"Pardon me, which way to the Aleutian archipelago?"
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Awesome Orcas We watched from our kayaks as a pair of black fins sliced the surface of the water
in front of us. Then we saw another pair, and another. Dozens of killer
whales were heading straight for us. We stopped paddling and waited as the group of orcas — or pod —
came within 10 feet of our kayaks. “I felt the blowhole air!” one of the
children shouted. Then the whales were gone, as quickly as they had
appeared.
| | It's a Fact!
Like bats, orcas can locate
objects and determine their size, shape, speed, and distance by listening for echoes. This process is called echolocation.
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Scene from a disaster flick? Nope, it's kayaking with whales in the
picturesque San Juan Islands,
one of the premier whale watching
locations in the world. The idea may seem daunting at first, but it's
perfectly safe, even for first-time paddlers and kids as young as eight. On one-day and multi-day trips, you'll paddle along the
serpentine shoreline of Puget Sound, among the lush, mossy islets that make up
the 468-island archipelago. When orca whales are out of sight, look for
harbor seals, sea lions, Dall porpoises, puffins, and bald eagles.
| To Get Up Close and Personal with Orcas: Contact the San Juan Islands Visitor Information
Service, (360) 468-3663, for a list of outfitters offering kayaking trips,
including Sea Quest Kayaking Expeditions/Zoetic Research, (360) 378-5767.
Trips are scheduled May through October; one-day trips cost about $60 per
person. |
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Return to  Top
Article © Diane Bair & Pamela Wright.
Photo of Amanda the Manatee © Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park.
RELATED GORP LINKS
 GORP Wildlife
GORP Family
GORP's Wildlife Refuge Index
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from Away.com
