Manatees Revisited

Recently on a cool, early morning the group went to one of our favorite manatee haunts to see if we could see more of them and maybe get close enough for an encounter. We were bunched up getting into the river, but soon turned into one long paddling string. We were safe, though, as the smudge pots (motorboats) weren't out yet. I think it has something to do with excessive partying the night before.

Anyway, we were enjoying our paddle, some paddling in groups and chatting, while others paddled alone to enjoy all nature had to offer that day. Then we spotted it. There was a buoy with a radio on it moving upriver from us. We knew the buoy was attached to a manatee who was on the river bottom feeding on eelgrass. We cautiously approached and were rewarded with about a half hour's worth of steady feeding under our boats interspersed with gentle rising and mammalian breathing. As always, we drifted with the animals, correcting our positions only slightly with small paddle strokes.

We were on our way back to the landing when we encountered another group of manatees working its way upriver. Again we stopped and drifted. This time we were joined by a motorboat and its occupants while watching. We got into a conversation with the boater who said he believed the section of the river with manatees should be off-limits to motorized boats. When asked why he was there in his, he answered, "Because it's legal for me to be here." He added that when the state finally gets its wits about itself and closes the rivers to all but paddlers, he'll get a canoe or kayak.

So, we were brought face-to-face with the solution to the problem. It's not against the law to ride in the manatee's habitat in a boat whose engine will almost surely cut, maim or kill the gentle mammals, but until it is, boaters and jet skiers (motorcycles of the water) will legally continue to have dangerous encounters with manatees.

So, voting Floridians, get up off your positive flotation devices and start to raise a stink to the legislature about the problem and its obvious solution. They pass silly and non-consequential laws every year. Why not pass one that does some good for a change?

But, that's just my opinion......