Wiki ...Blue Spring State Park is unique because visitors can view manatees in the crystal-clear spring water from the boardwalk, which stretches 1/3 of a mile from the St. Johns River to the headspring. The boardwalk provides a wonderful opportunity for safely observing the manatees. Visitors can see manatees socializing and mothers nursing their small calves, without influencing the manatees’ natural behavior or bothering them.
The number of manatees visiting the park has grown significantly, from about 36 animals when research began in the 1970s to over 500 animals today. Although there are still many threats to manatees — habitat loss, pollution, algae blooms and collision with watercraft — Blue Spring State Park serves as a safe haven for these gentle creatures. The park is also an ideal location to release manatees back into the wild after they have been rehabilitated from sickness or injury. Because they can easily be monitored at the spring and the surrounding waters, researchers are able to make sure they adapt to life back in the wild. (Florida State Parks)
- - - - - - - - - personal notes & photos - - - - - - - - -
We always thought that Crystal River was the only manatee center in Florida of any size. As it turns out, Crystal River is the ONLY manatee location in the state where humans can interact directly with the manatees in their environment. Blue Springs State Park made it easy to view and photogrpah the manatees with an overlooking dock/deck.
Photo Ops:
Resources:
Wiki ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Springs_State_Park
State Park ... www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park/manatees-blue-spring-state-park
The number of manatees visiting the park has grown significantly, from about 36 animals when research began in the 1970s to over 500 animals today. Although there are still many threats to manatees — habitat loss, pollution, algae blooms and collision with watercraft — Blue Spring State Park serves as a safe haven for these gentle creatures. The park is also an ideal location to release manatees back into the wild after they have been rehabilitated from sickness or injury. Because they can easily be monitored at the spring and the surrounding waters, researchers are able to make sure they adapt to life back in the wild. (Florida State Parks)
- - - - - - - - - personal notes & photos - - - - - - - - -
We always thought that Crystal River was the only manatee center in Florida of any size. As it turns out, Crystal River is the ONLY manatee location in the state where humans can interact directly with the manatees in their environment. Blue Springs State Park made it easy to view and photogrpah the manatees with an overlooking dock/deck.
Photo Ops:
- hmmmm - Manatees
Resources:
Wiki ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Springs_State_Park
State Park ... www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park/manatees-blue-spring-state-park
