07.25.13

07.25.13, a photo by colemama on Flickr.

Manatees, also known as sea cows, are fairly common in our waters - though this time of year, the warm Gulf waters draws them farther away from shore. These mammals with their massive heft (weighing in at a ton) and thick gray skin remind me of a morphed elephant/mermaid! Unfortunately, their slow (3 to 5 mph) speed and preference for shallower waters puts them in the path of recreational boaters on a regular basis - a combination which is often deadly (or injurious) to the gentle giant. This sign at the City Dock is an attempt to educate and hopefully is attended to by at least a few...Naples, FL