Kobee Manatee® Celebrates July 4th!

Kobee Manatee® celebrates the Fourth of July grilling his famous and delicious seagrass burgers for everyone! Illustration: Lauren Gallegos
 

Greetings! Well it’s that historical time of year again when we celebrate our nation’s birthday! Can you believe the USA is now 243 years old? The Fourth of July is also known as Independence Day or simply July 4th. This historic day has actually been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. However, traditionally Fourth of July celebrations date all the way back to the 18thcentury and the American Revolution.

It was on July 2nd, 1776 the Continental Congress passed votes in favor of Independence, and then exactly two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where my author, Robert Scott Thayer was born. This historic document was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and from 1776 to the present day; July 4th has been traditionally celebrated as the birth of American independence. Festivals and celebrations include fireworks, parades and concerts, along with family gatherings and barbecues.

Well – as for me and since us manatees are herbivores; I just have to fire up my one-of-a-kind sea grill and barbecue the tastiest seagrass burgers on the planet!

And speaking of seagrass, did you know it is often confused with seaweeds? Actually, seagrass is much more closely related to flowering land plants. Why? Because seagrasses have roots, stems, leaves, and they produce flowers and seeds. These awesome underwater plants evolved 100 million years ago and there are around 72 different types of seagrass species. In fact, some of these seagrass species can form incredibly huge underwater meadows, which can be seen from space!

Once again let me wish you and yours a very happy and safe Fourth of July. And whatever type of burgers you are grilling; beef, turkey, vegetarian, or seagrass – ENJOY! 

Happy Birthday America! 

If you are in Florida and you see a sick or injured manatee, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC. They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.

Here’s the Save the Manatee Club link to learn more about manatees …

www.savethemanatee.org

Here’s a cool link for you to learn more about how we’re rescued and brought into rehabilitation …

www.wildtracks.org

~ Kobee Manatee