FEEDING THE MANATEES

THE MAN THAT WAS FEEDING THESE MANATEES WAS DOING A TERRIFIC JOB OF SPEAKING ABOUT THEM. THIS WAS THE VERY BEST ORATION I HAVE EVER HEARD.

AS HE SPOKE, THE MANATEES WERE SORT OF LEANING ON HIM UNTIL THEY HAD PUSHED HIM FULLY CLOTHED INTO THE WATER FROM THE SHORE LINE BY MANY YARDS. I WAS ACTUALLY AFRAID THEY MIGHT DROWN HIM. BUT HE HAD EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL. WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO RETURN, ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS GENTLY PUSH THEM APART, WALK BETWEEN THEM AND GO ASHORE.

THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF A TRIP TO THIS PARK. IN THE WINTER THEY ARE GONE DOWN TO THE GULF STREAM WHERE IT IS A LOT WARMER, BUT THEY ARE OFTEN DRIVEN OVER BY BOATS WITH PROPELLERS THAT CUT THEM VERY BADLY. AND THEY ARE SUCH GENTLE CREATURES, BUT THEY DO LOOK LIKE FLOATING LOGS, OR SOMETHING ELSE, IF YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM.

AT THE PARK THEY FEED THEM HUGE CABBAGES AND LOTS OF CARROTS AND LETTUCE...THEY DO NOT BITE, AND ARE ONLY VEGETARIANS. LEFT IN THE WILDS, THEY WOULD BE EATING SEA GRASSES. BET THEY LOVE THOSE SWEET CARROTS MUCH BETTER. THE PARK HAS NAMED ALL OF THEIR MANATEES. THEY KEEP 8 OR 9 OF THEM SAFE, UNTIL THEY LEAVE FOR THE WINTER.

I FELT SO LUCKY TO BE THERE WHILE THEY WERE STILL "HANGING OUT."