Kobees Blog

Feds Reviewing Manatee Endangered Status

07/03/2014

I just heard that the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service is reviewing the status of us manatees. They may change our status from endangered to threatened. There are two sides of people who are involved with this issue. One side...

Reading to Preschool Children – One of the Most Important Steps Parents Can Do

07/01/2014

It’s never too early to start reading to your preschool children. In fact, some mothers read to their children weeks before they are born. And according to research (DeCasper, Lecanuet, Busnel, & Granier-Deferre, 1994), babies not yet born can actually respond to...

Beached Female Manatee Rescued in Ponce Inlet, Florida …

06/27/2014

A female manatee friend of mine was stranded on a beach in Ponce Inlet, Florida. This area is just south of Daytona Beach. It’s not uncommon for this to occur during manatee mating season because we swim in shallow water. The Florida...

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...