Manatee Encounters @ Sandbar Vacation Rentals
We are so fortunate to be in a part of Florida surrounded by freshwater springs and grass flats. It is these waters that the magnificent, gentle creatures known as manatees, or sea cows, call home. They are frequently seen in the canals where Sandbar Vacation Rentals properties are nestled. We really hope you get to see a manatee during your stay!
Before we talk about where and how to see manatees, we have to first mention the importance of the “Slow - No Wake Zone.”
When navigating the channels in and around the community, this sign should be obeyed at all times. It means we need to go slow enough to not make waves.
No wake helps manatees (and other wildlife). Because the manatees swim in the local canals where residents and guests pilot boats, we all need to look out for the sea cows when we’re on the water. Even though they don’t have any predators, many manatees are injured or killed by watercraft every year. Fast-moving boats and propellers can wound or kill the slow-moving manatees.
No wake helps homeowners. With fewer waves, there is less erosion of both natural shoreline and man-made sea walls or bulkheads.
No wake helps you. These slow speed zones are enforced by Florida boating regulations. You don’t want to get pulled over for speeding.
Give the manatees time to get out of your way. If you see a massive movement on the water's surface, please put the motor throttle in neutral and let the pontoon boat coast a bit. Allow these gentle giants to sink to the bottom of the canal so you can pass over them without the motor propeller causing any harm.
Where to See Florida Manatees on the Gulf Coast
Guests at Sandbar Vacation Rentals have many opportunities to see manatees. Depending on the time of year that you visit, you have different options to spot sea cows. However, the peak time for seeing manatees is November through April, with December through February seeing the largest numbers.
It helps to understand that manatees typically live in the ocean when the water is warm. They look for beds of seagrass -- their main food -- which usually grow in shallow saltwater environments. But when the water turns cold, manatees want to warm up. That’s when they come to inland and near-shore waters. They especially love visiting Florida’s freshwater springs, most of which are a consistent 72 degrees F year-round. That’s a lot warmer than the ocean in winter!
With that in mind, here’s where you can see manatees during your stay.
Around the house. As mentioned previously, they frequent the canals in our waterfront community. If you are fortunate to spot a manatee in the canal walk gently onto the dock then on the boat. Just sit quietly may get a unique opportunity for an up-close encounter.
On a kayak. Fillman's Creek is a short paddle from the Sandbar Vacation Rentals. Little known by most, there are two freshwater springs in the back of this creek. Manatees love these spring waters and will congregate there. The best opportunity to spot manatees in these springs is in the cooler months.
Anclote Key. There is a good chance if you visit Sandbar Vacation Rentals in the early summer months, you may stumble across a group of manatees mating on the beaches of Anclote Key. I have been fortunate to see this manatee beach party twice in my lifetime and have yet to live in Florida permanently.
Boating in the canals. Any time of year, you can stumble across manatees while boating in the canals. It was during our last visit in September we saw a mother manatee with her baby numerous times in the south canal. It was as if she was teaching her newborn the ways of the human motorboats and their dangerous propellers.
Crystal River and Homosassa Springs. If you choose to stay at a Sandbar Vacations Rentals property during the cooler months, I urge you to take a trip about an hour north on Hwy 19 to Crystal River or Homosassa Springs. There are many places where you can see large groups of these sea cows from the land, such as Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge boardwalk. Springs are less crowded on weekdays and during early mornings -- the time of day when manatees seem to be most active and playful.
On a manatee tour. Crystal River and Homosassa Springs are the most popular places in Florida where you can swim with manatees and the only places where you will find manatee swim tours. Find out how to meet a manatee and get to know these awe-inspiring creatures better. If you decide to put on a wetsuit and want to get up close and personal, we recommend you make a reservation with River Ventures.
Three Sisters Springs: World-famous, the spring is a preferred refuge of wintering manatees during Manatee Season (November 15 to March 31) with a record 528 manatees recorded on December 27, 2014. A boardwalk circling this one-acre springs complex allows for incredible views. The 57-acre site also features restored wetlands that attract birds and other wildlife. (50.5 miles away)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discusses the Florida manatee and includes information on habitat and range, biology, behavior, threats, active research, and rescue and rehabilitation activities
That’s it! If you want to see manatees on your Florida vacation, book your stay at Sandbar Vacation Rentals and have a great time seeing these special creatures.