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

1. Bob Scannell Says:
   May 4th, 2009 at 11:01 am

   That was an awesome video Kurt!
   I am so jealous, I can’t wait to get back into the water.

   BoB Scannell
   bobnfla@tampabay.rr.com

2. Bob Dowling Says:
   May 4th, 2009 at 11:08 pm

   Wow !!! It takes Kurt to show us what is in our own back yards and water ways. Way to go Kurt. Is that video Cam waterproof ? Those bulls can become extremely violent when jousting one another over a potential mate. I’ve seen them throw water up over 30 feet in the air with those huge tails. That would be quite a video with you on top of one of those flumes in your yak!!! Be careful out there and when you see rough play better back your yak way off. pontoon bob–:)

3. Julie Latimer Says:
   May 5th, 2009 at 6:00 am

   I went looking for them on Sunday, but launched from Casino beach, and was thwarted by the wind and my lack of fitness…only made it a few inlets up and pooped out. But I DID see a Tarpon leap/thrash out of the water…a first for me!

4. Donna Kitt Says:
   May 30th, 2009 at 12:56 pm

   Thank you so much for sharing.

5. Lina Lukashevich Says:
   January 20th, 2010 at 9:20 am

   Neat video! I’m working on writing my next kids’ book “Kayak Anna and the Manatee Springs” so you are helping my research!