Kobees Blog

Manatee Ancestors were Land Animals!

06/24/2014

When talking about long ago ancestors of the manatee and its close relative, the dugong, I bet you would never think that land animals were related to them. Well – it’s true! In fact, there are three land animals directly related to...

Children Discover Joy of Reading from Book Loving Parents

06/21/2014

According to psychologist Eileen Kennedy-Moore, author of Smart Parenting for Smart Kids. “Children learn more from what we do than from what we say. Parents who love to read demonstrate to their children that reading is interesting, enjoyable, and worthwhile.” So keep...

2014 Florida Manatee Population

06/18/2014

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), as of January 2014, the manatee population was approximately 4,831. Their population count is recorded from aerial observation. These manatee aerial surveys are conducted during the winter season. This is because warm-blooded manatees...

My Florida Manatee Buddy – Trapped in a St. Petersburg Spillway!

06/13/2014

I just got the news while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean off of Miami that one of my manatee buddies became trapped in a spillway. It happened in St. Petersburg, Florida near 37th street. He was trying to clear the low...

Children’s Picture Books Inspire Everyone!

06/10/2014

When you pick up a children’s picture book and open its pages, both you and the children you read it to are easily inspired. For you – it’s escaping reality for a few minutes. For the children – it’s a wonderful time...

Some Cool Manatee History for You!

05/29/2014

We manatees have been on the planet for a very long time. In fact, our fossils have been found all around the world. But it is both Florida and the Caribbean that have evidence of us dating back some 50 million years!...

Blue Spring State Park – Popular Winter Haven For Manatees

05/27/2014

Nothing can match the beauty, serenity, and majesty of Blue Spring State Park located in Orange City, Florida. It’s a short 35-minute drive just north of Orlando. The park is home to the largest spring on the St. Johns River. The spring...

Red Tide: A Manatee’s Personal Danger

05/08/2014

I really don’t have any enemies to speak of. Even sharks won’t bother me! However there’s one nightmare I have to deal with from time to time. It’s called red tide. Red tide is made up of microscopic water plants (algae). These...

Red Tide: A Manatee Nightmare

05/07/2014

How can it be that insanely small microscopic algae called Karenia brevis, known as red tide, has the ability to kill hundreds of large majestic manatees in a very short period of time? It’s because of the deadly toxin they produce which...

Manatees and Florida

05/06/2014

Most manatees stay in Florida all year. Only a small percentage (less than 10%) leave Florida in the warm months. ~Kobee