Manatees, the environmental darlings of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett, are massing along the South Florida coast. And for good reason....it has been really cold in Florida and expected to get really cold again this week.
Why would I call them the environmental darlings? Because they are seen as "cute and cuddly" and so they have received celebrity endorsement. On the other hand, there are approximately the same number of black bears as manatees in Florida and yet they have not received the "cute and cuddly" designation so you can still hunt them. Strange how laws are made.
Anyway, back to our friends the manatees.
Each year during the winter manatees migrate to the warm water outfalls from our power plants and congregate there to keep warm. We have a power plant in Riviera Beach, near Singer Island, where hundreds are gathered and there is an observation area where school children and others can go see them lazily hanging around in the warm water.
What we commonly call a manatee is actually the West Indian Manatee, one of three species in the world. They grow to about 12 feet long and can weigh over 1,000 pounds. Long before Jimmy Buffett decided to champion their cause, local Indians saw them as a great source of meat since they are easy to hunt just like sea turtles.
We see manatees here in Jupiter and Tequesta all the time. While snorkeling with my boys, we have been able to swim right along with them many times. Once, I dared to touch one and incurred the wrath of an environmentally self-righteous woman who yanked her snorkel out of her mouth in order to give me a mouth full of "green" admonishment not to touch the delicate little creatures.
These large mammals are herbivores and love lettuce and fresh water. They are found at the mouth of the Crystal River enjoying the fresh water and when found near docks, will drink right from the hose when offered.
Manatees like it here, Jimmy Buffett likes it here and you will too. Of course Buffett's Margaritaville theme is just an act. "Margaritaville" bought him the mansion he lives in on Palm Beach mansion near Rush Limbaugh, Donald Trump, Rod Stewart and Bernie Madoff's wife. Wasted away again in Margaritaville? Hardly.
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