Manatees!, 1/07/2019

When there is a cold snap in the Tampa Bay area, be sure to head out to the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach. A state and federal manatee sanctuary, it provides safe haven for these protected marine mammals. 

When the Tampa Bay is below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, manatees seek warmer waters. The clean, warm water reservoir of Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station is one of the places where you can see these gentle creatures.

The observation platforms were full of people enjoying the view of hundreds of manatees on the day we visited. 

Occasionally, you can catch a glimpse of a manatee coming up for air (they can remain submerged for 20 minutes) or their tail if you look closely. A calf is 3-4’ long and weigh 60-75 pounds at birth. 

The environmental center (next to the gift shop) provides interesting information about manatees, their environment, and threats (primarily boats) to their existence. Approximately 80% of them have scars from boat motors and many are killed by them. Genetically, the closest living relatives to the manatee are the aardvark, hydrax and elephant. 

Beneath the observation platform is a tank with rays where visitors can touch their “wings” as they swim around the tank. I always enjoy feeling their “velvety” skin! Nearby is the 900' tidal walkway that passes through a mangrove forest. 

The boardwalk continues along the shoreline towards the Tampa Bay.

There is also a self-guided nature trail at the Center, but pets are not allowed so we skipped it. For additional information about the Manatee Viewing Center, go to www.tampaelectric.com/company/mvc.

Instead we drove to the nearby Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, a two-acre stretch of land that does permit leashed pets.

This is a popular fishing spot and we saw families enjoying the calm waters of the bay. 

This area is well worth a visit, especially when lots of manatees can be seen near the power plant.