Where the Locals Eat–Manatee Springs, Florida

Way down upon the Suwannee River… is Manatee Springs State Park!  Manatee Springs State Park in Florida is home to a freshwater spring where manatees come to munch sea grass every winter before turning around and continuing up the Suwannee River during their annual winter migration north in search of food and warmer waters.  Manatee Springs is a haven for Manatees in the winter months and it is also a refuge for many other species to thrive all year long.

Manatee Spring forms a round pool at the end of an inlet on the Suwannee River where crystal clear water wells up from a crevice near the bottom of the basin about 20 feet down creating swirling ripples on the surface of the pool. This water runs rather swiftly down the channel about 300 yards to the river.

Through the crystal-clear water schools of small fish can be seen swimming along the smooth rocky bottom of the channel and large catfish steadily comb the wispy moss that grows around the edge of the spring basin.  Egrets and alligators also reside near the banks of the spring run among the mossy banks and flaring trunks of the cypress trees that grow there.

At the mouth of the inlet where the spring water runs into the Suwannee River there are clusters of lily pads and other leafy aquatic plants.  Schools of enormous dark gray carp scour the river bottom and can be seen wagging themselves to and fro through their shallow underwater domain.

Far above the water turkey vultures fly in gilding circles.  Their eyes scan the ground and river endlessly in search of an easy meal.  Hawks zoom overhead with wings tucked in halfway towards the body in a steep, high-velocity dive that creates a startlingly loud rush of feathers piercing the air.  These precise and highly-lethal dive bomb most likely results in lunch for these raptors.

White tailed deer abound at Manatee Springs State Park and they often travel in large groups.  These graceful herds roam the park eating leaves and branches and paying only the slightest regard to campers.  These deer herds will come right through a campsite, especially if the campers are cooking dinner.  Perhaps they like to hang around in hopes of some food other than just leaves and sticks!

After nightfall the campsites receive nocturnal visitors that can be very unnerving.  Frantic scuffling only inches from a tent can conjure frightening images of a raccoon’s shining claws and teeth in the night.

Upon further inspection campers will discover that these nighttime noises are in fact caused by harmless armadillos!  It is impossible to be scared of one of these cute critters sniffing around in the dirt for ants near the tent!

In addition to what can be observed on the surface of the park, Manatee Springs State Park also has over five miles of underwater caves for SCUBA divers to explore.  Untold subterranean wildlife surely resides in these mysterious caves including many water snakes!

The clear, silky water of Manatee Spring is wonderful and exciting place for people to swim during most of the year.  But when the manatees are around, Manatee Springs State Park ensures that the Manatees have exclusive access to the spring where the warm spring water is important part of their natural migration.

The park bans boating, swimming, and SCUBA diving in the springs during times in winter when manatees are present in the park to ensure that the manatees can eat their sea grass in peace in the luxury and warmth of Manatee Springs!