Manatee Sightings

A manatee mom and calf doing a barrell roll.

Crystal River, Florida: Photographer David Schrichte sent us this beautiful photo taken near Three Sisters Springs of a manatee doing a barrell roll, while another manatee hangs on for the ride. (Photo © David R. Schrichte)

Crystal River, Florida: David Schrichte also sent us this photo of a manatee chewing on the anchor rope of a pontoon boat near Hunter Springs Park. Manatees use the hairs on the area between their lips and nostrils to help investigate objects. You can read more about this in the article How Manatees Find Their Way by Dr. Roger Reep. (Photo © David R. Schrichte)

Manatees swimming at Blue Spring State Park

Orange City, Florida: Jeanette and Barrie Dixon from England visited Blue Spring State Park in December 2010. Barrie took photos of manatees swimming in the spring run and also snacking on some palmetto hanging over the bank. Jeanette wrote: "The first cold day we went up and there were 87 manatees in. We were there over two hours just watching, so peaceful."

Orange City, Florida: Scott Van Arnam sent this photo of a manatee and alligator nose to nose at Blue Spring State Park in early January 2011. "The alligator was sunning himself and never moved when the manatee approached him," said Scott. "There was a slight nudge and the manatee slowly turned and left. The alligator was uninterested and showed zero response." Manatees and alligators share the same habitat, but generally speaking manatees ignore the alligators because they are too big to be a food source for the alligators. Read more on this topic >>

Mother manatee and calf at Blue Spring State Park

Orange City, Florida: Jenny Hersch sent this video of a manatee mother and calf sighted near Blue Spring State Park. "I was on a canoe trip in January 2010 with Lars Andersen of Adventure Outpost," said Jenny. "I was visiting the area from Massachusetts and hired Lars as my guide for four days of paddling. I was amazed by the wildlife, the lushness of the greenery, and the quality of the spring water. To see manatees so closely was quite a treat! And I realize that I was lucky to see them at all." Go >>

Orange City, Florida: We also received this photo from Jenny Hersch of what appears to be a female manatee with triplets. SMC members will no doubt be delighted to know that the large female with the white scars is "Phyllis," one of the Blue Spring manatees in our adoption program. Phyllis has been known to be an "auntie" to other manatee calves and allow them to nurse. Wayne Hartley, who tracks the Blue Spring manatees, says that Phyllis came into Blue Spring with a calf last winter, and the photo probably captures her taking care of other calves in addition to her own. "Phyllis always has a crowd," says Wayne. "One of the calves with her is Pogo, who hung out with her last season."

David R. Schrichte manatee photo at Blue Spring State Park

Orange City, Florida: David Schrichte also stopped by Blue Spring State Park in January and sent us some lovely photos. Top to bottom: manatees gather in the spring run, three manatees swim down the run, a mother and calf, and mom does a barrell roll. (Photo © David R. Schrichte)

California: A big thank you to Dr. Joan B. Hoch, who says she is always looking for ways to spread the word about manatees. She sent us this photo and said, "I thought you might enjoy seeing the back of my car. I love the reactions I see in the rearview mirror. Some folks go so far as to take photos with their cell phones!"

There's More!
Check out manatee photos and artwork by our Facebook fans and submit some of your own. Go >>

Manatee Do you have a manatee sighting to share? Send photos and a short description to education@savethemanatee.org. If your photo is selected for our Paddle Tales E-Newsletter, we'll send you a free 30th Anniversary Club T-Shirt!