Manatees

**lisi** · 17-09-2004, 19:44

As you will no doubt be aware I have been posting about our forthcoming trip to Rotonda on 3 October. I have always wanted to see the manatees and would love this time to be able to do so. Can anyone tell me where the best place is to see them - someone told me that Key Largo was a good place but not sure if we will be going to the Keys yet. Anyway I wondered if October was a good time of year for them or not. I know they are loveable and threatened because of the speedboats but would dearly love to interact with them.

Now Blott will tell me that it's not what they are there for and to keep well away I am sure!![8D]

Lisi

**blott** · 17-09-2004, 20:05

Lisi that's not what they are there for and keep away!

Didn't want to disappoint you!

Seriously, manatees come inland between around November and March each year so they're found in some rivers like the Crystal River or Blue State Park where you can go and see them. You may be lucky in October, towards the end of your stay so best thing to do is to ring up and ask. James Kraus is the Crystal River Manager on (352) 563-2088 and for Blue State Park it's 386-775-3663. It would be wise to ring before visiting anyway in case they've had hurricane damage.

Manatees are endangered species, as I'm sure you already know, and there are staff on hand at both these locations to make sure that they are not frightened or hassled or harmed.

**Nostromo** · 17-09-2004, 20:06

Sea World have a well presented and very moving exhibit called "Manatees: The Last Generation?" The show is very informative and I am sure the staff there will be able to guide you regards the best spots to see them in the wild.

**Jill** · 17-09-2004, 20:07

Last Christmas we took our boys on a trip to swim with the manatees at Crystal River it is possible to hire equipment if you do not have your own wet suit etc. It was a wonderful experience but please remember these are wild animals and we are invading their space when we swim with them.

**Newhomebuyer** · 17-09-2004, 20:14

I know that Blue Spring State Park north of Orlando in Orange City would be a good place during the colder months but I am not too sure about October I read that they usually arrive about November. Of course you can see the rescued ones at Seaworld.
If you type in www.savethemanatee.org that should give you a usful site.

**Ray9** · 17-09-2004, 20:45

[website link edited] is the web site to help

**Cruella DeVilla** · 17-09-2004, 21:08

Mr CDV loves the sea cows and we have been twice to see them at Seaworld as Nostromo suggests.

**Ray&Sarah** · 17-09-2004, 22:25

When we stayed at Key Largo in October a few years ago, the manatees used to come near the beach to drink from a hosepipe that was dangling over the dock, it was lovely to see them, always pulled a big crowd.[msnsmile2]

**Robert5988** · 17-09-2004, 23:05

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:I have always wanted to see the manatees and would love this time to be able to do so. [/quote]

I have cut and pasted the extract below from the wild life thread If it is not too far for you to go you can be sure of seeing loads as they always feed at one place - and the Reserve have built a viewing platform. I have been several times and never seen less than 6 and sometimes up to 14.

A good day out to see natural wild life - birds by the thousand - manatees - aligators is Merritt Island wild life reserve. It is about an hour from Orlando(go East from J220 on I95.

It is free to enter the reserve and if you want to go to the beach it is a few dollars for the car. Free maps etc available from the Reserve centre.

One tip - there are no refreshments for sale at all, so pack a cool box if you are going for the day.