I know everybody has their own âbucket listâ so to speak of some place they want to go or something they would like to do before they, lets say, kick the bucket. Well, one such item that should definitely be on everyoneâs list is an opportunity to swim with the manatees! I can promise you that this will be one of the funnest, coolest things youâve ever done.
The manatees, or as some call them the sea cows, are a very large, sometimes reaching 1200 lbs., vegetarian mammal. They are very docile and loving. While interacting in the water with them they will a lot of times want you to scratch their back, and even at times roll over and want you to rub their bellies. And right here in Homosassa and Crystal rivers in Citrus County Florida, which is in the western middle part of the state, it is the only place left on the planet were you can still get in the water to swim and interact with them. Anywhere else and it could be a $300 fine.
A reason why you can still do it here is because these two rivers are spring fed and constantly pump out a 72 degree water temperature that draws the manatees to the warmer water during the winter. Otherwise, as opposed to the summer months where you can find them in the nearby creeks and coastline but a lot more scattered out, these large mammals canât tolerate anything much less than 60-degree water, so the springs provide comfort that they need.
It is known that a manatee consumes 10% of its body weight in vegetation daily. So, if you do the math, a 1,000 pound manatee would eat in the neighborhood of 100 pounds every day. Their closest relative is actually, believe it or not, the elephant! They even have little thumbnails on their flippers and whiskers on their snout. So, put it on your list and come experience an adventure you wonât soon forget.
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