MANATEE OF SOUTH PASADENA FLORIDA
 The sun barely topped the trees when I dropped my kayak off the seawall in S Pasadena Florida today.  Just one week ago the city did a clean up of Bear Creek to keep storm water runoff bebris from washing into their living room and it’s  a good thing as 6 gentle giants moved in to play for the Summer.
  These  East Indian Manatee remind me of tracking other wild animals of the past.   I paddled and drifted toward them as quietly as possible but the near-sighted giants knew I was there and kept their distance.  Sometimes they disappeared into shallow water at an alarming rate of speed leaving only huge wakes of turbulence for me to track.   After an hour I settled in close to a smooching  pair until a giant male (who’s body was much larger than my 12 foot kayak) snuck in from the side and  swam under me!  My heart jumped into my throat fearing the huge tail could easily thump me  into the drink.

  A splash, a wake, a swirl of mud from the bottom. Flared nostrils spraying  a sour  mist, whiskers of a seal,   mossy backs &  prop scars…then a close encounter!  See the video on our website and Kayak Nature Today!  www.kayaknature.com