There be Manatees!

Can you believe it - Mom and Dad went all the way down to Blue Springs State Park without us and she even forgot to take Bashful and Sweet Pea !!!! Now admittedly this is one of Florida's silly State Parks - they allow dogs but only in certain places and NOT in the place Mom and Dad went specifically for - to see the Manatees. Sadly there were only two Manatees there today - normally between November and February is when the Manatees head up to Blue Springs but this year because it is so unseasonable warm they haven't arrived. The ocean temperature has to drop below 70 degrees for them to head into the springs and so far it is still at 76 degrees and today here in Florida we hit 85 degrees the hottest ever recorded December day since records have been kept. But at least THEY got to see two manatees and lots of fish and turtles. Mom and Dad visited Blue Springs about 9 years ago and were amazed how much it has changed - the last time they went there was about 20 manatees that day including a little baby one. We are sorry we couldn't get better photos - there was a good breeze blowing that rippled the water making  it hard to get clear shots. There is also an awesome Save the Manatee web site where they have a live Manatee Cam - you can see them playing in the springs if they are there - but they also have some great videos of them too. Did you know Manatees are also one of the few aquatic mammals they can live in both salt water and fresh water.


Notice the white spot on its side - it's a Cowspot Manatee!

This manatee was having fun swimming upside down :)