During our trip through the Merrit Island Wildlife Refuge we spotted a few animals which we're not of teh feathered variety. The first 2 shots oare of different gators encountered during our drive through the park.

The last shot is of a Manatee coming up for air about 6 miles from the birding area on the Indian River. Such a beautiful creature. It stopped and ate along the shoreline while boats were racing by. I will spare you the images of the scar that this one has on it's side from propeller damage by indiscriminate boaters. Such beautiful docile animals do not deserve this type of injury and yet after years of media and environmental information blitzes people still think they have the right to blow through these areas in their speedboats with abandon.

Yeah, the manatees at the Columbus Zoo are rescued and rehabilitated ones. Some have propeller scars the entire length of their backs like a horrendous zipper.

Thanks for sharing these.

I looked at the pics before reading the post. I thought the mamatees looked like a bear sticking it's nose out of the water. :)

manatees are very cool. Maybe next time bring a few heads of lettuce to feed them :)