ALL PICTURES AND TEXT ON THIS WEBSITE ARE COPYWRIGHTED BY DONALD L SCHULTZ

Try to imagine a river, yes, an entire river gushing forth from the earth from a spring at over 150 million, yes, million gallons a day. The springs have usual names like Big Awesome, Dismal Sink, Croaker Hole, Devil’s Ear, Mullet’s Gullet, Promise Pond and Weeki Wachee Springs just to name a few, but all have one thing in common. The water is pristine, crystal clear and at a constant 72-78 degrees F summer, winter, spring and fall. There are over 200 of these fresh water springs dotting the north central and western panhandle of Florida. These somewhat unknown geologic jewels are an attraction for both man and fellow mammal, the manatees.

For man they represent an opportunity to scuba, snorkel, tube, fish and explore some of the few remaining examples of unpolluted waterways. But for the manatee, they represent so much more, literally survival itself. The West Indian manatees are large, gray aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail which caused early fishermen to think that they were looking at mermaids... Their head and face are wrinkled with whiskers on the snout. The closest land relative is the elephants. Manatees are gentle and slow-moving. Most of their time is spent eating, resting, and traveling. They are completely herbivorous. They eat aquatic plants and can consume 10-15% of their up to 2000 lbs body weight daily in vegetation. They graze for food along water bottoms and on the surface and often are referred to as “sea cows”.

Florida’s manatees have no natural enemies, and it is believed they can live 60 years or more. Unfortunately manatees are extremely temperature sensitive, and it is that fact that leads to their declining numbers and possible extinction. The manatees come in from the cold ocean during the winter months to seek refuge in the many rivers formed from these warm water springs. As they congregate in the narrow water ways, they are often injured by the propellers of thousands of commercial and pleasure boats that clog the waterways. Many individual manatees are identified by researchers by the slash scars on their backs and sides.

Other causes of human-related manatee deaths include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures, ingestion of fish hooks, litter and monofilament line, and entanglement in crab trap lines. Ultimately, however, loss of habitat is the most serious threat facing manatees today. There are approximately only 2,000 West Indian manatees left in the United States and their number decline more each year.

Swimming with the manatees is a popular tourist attraction and a recent video posted on the popular website U-Tube showing teenagers poking, prodding and attempting to ride these gentle creatures has prompted the Florida legislature to consider measures to outlaw all in water contact with manatees, much to the fear of the local businesses.

So it was with a certain amount of hesitation and urgency that Sara and I rented a small pontoon boat for an afternoon encounter with the manatees of the Homosassa River. This probably would be our last opportunity to get close to a manatee and we knew it.

At the boat rental dock we were handed a list of rules related to the manatees, most important being that the boat could only be operated at slow idle speed, no wake, and no “forced” encounters what ever that means. Somehow a forced encounter with an animal that can weigh up to 2000 lbs and swim over 20 miles an hour seemed stupid if not impossible. Added to that was a 1978 Manatee Sanctuary act that makes it unlawful to annoy, molest, harass or disturb any manatee with state fines of $500/60 day in jail and federal statutes with a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison there was an added incentive to be careful.

As we approached the Homosassa State Park border, we were met by several Manatee Watch volunteers in kayaks and official looking uniforms and armed with cell phones to report any violations. And then we saw them, huge greenish gray hulks, lazily grazing on vegetation in the crystal clear, warm spring water. We carefully lowered the anchor and I slipped on snorkel, flippers and mask and quietly lowered myself into the water.

Oh my gosh, it was a momma manatee with her baby at her side. The reproductive rate for manatees is slow. Female manatees are not sexually mature until about five years of age, and males aren’t mature until nine years of age. On average, one calf is born every two to five years, and twins are rare. What an experience!!! My heart pounded with excitement. I don’t have an underwater camera so I can’t show any pictures, but I will never forget the sight. The mammary gland is just under the flipper and the baby was “at the elbow” but I could not see its face. I was so close I could have touched both of them but resisted the temptation. It was just an honor to be so near. The mother turned with her baby and gazed at me as if to say, “What do you think of junior and thanks for leaving us alone”. And then it was over. Wow Wow!!!!!

While swimming with the Manatees may soon be illegal, exploring the hundreds of fresh water springs of Florida is something anyone can do. You don’t need fancy equipment; a snorkel, mask and fins are all you need and these can be rented for a few dollars at the many concession stands at the springs. I snorkeled on both the Rainbow River and at Alexander Spring in the Ocola National Forest and loved both experiences. These springs dot the North Central and Panhandle parts of Florida and can be found in many local guide books.

If, however, you are not the type that likes to get wet, then visit the one spring we think is the most spectacular and the easiest to explore in all of Florida. It is at Wakulla State Park, about 30 miles south of Tallahassee. This is one of the largest springs in Florida with a daily flow of an incredible 180 million gallons a day. Once a private resort and wildlife refuge, it was taken over in 1936 by the state which now operates the facility as a first class hotel complete with elegant dining. Site of the many Tarzan movies of the 1930’s-40’s and Creature of the Black Lagoon, (that classic staring Richard Carlson and Julia Adams),and the grounds are absolutely beautiful with towering trees draped in Spanish moss and colorful azalea bushes.

But the real attractions are the boat rides. For a mere $6 you can take a tour during which we can guarantee you will see more native Florida wildlife in one hour than any other area outside of the Everglades. The crystal clear waters team with bass and mullet. We saw wild turkeys and deer on the shore, and, if you are a bird watcher, it is the mother lode. We saw great white egrets, wood ducks, an osprey on a nest, the rare and elusive least bittern, great blue herons, both black and yellow crowned night herons and the American widgeon just to name a few. Turtles and alligators abound, and there was a new surprise around every bend, all skillfully narrated by a park ranger who, it was obvious to everyone aboard, loved her job. Visit Wakulla State Park; you will love it. And you are a mere 40 miles from the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and the famous St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge.

Florida has many hidden fresh water treasures, and if you visit some of them, you might just get lucky and be able to swim with a manatee.