Mating herd of manatees stops by Christian Retreat

MANATEE COUNTY — Laura Cannon and her husband, Cliff, sat quietly in the shade of their golf cart as they peered across the Manatee River through a pair of binoculars.

There, near the shoreline, gray masses rose from the water. The group of manatees — about 15 total — had been making their way down the Manatee River along Christian Retreat’s property all morning Sept. 14.

The Cannons already had been watching the gentle giants for more than five hours.

“They came up as close as 30 feet,” Laura Cannon said excitedly. “I loved seeing it. It was so beautiful.”

Christian Retreat employee Angie Goodwin, who captured the manatees’ activities with a small video camera (see video on YourObserver.com), said she’d only seen such a large group of manatees in the river one other time.

“It’s just one of those experiences you’re blessed to have the opportunity (to see) that many (manatees) altogether in your backyard,” she said. “It was right in front of us.”

Two representatives of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state agency responsible for managing fish and wildlife resources, stopped by the site to check on the manatees after one resident called with concerns the large female, at the center of the herd, was injured.

“We thought it was a mating herd but decided to check it out (based on observations made by the caller),” commission veterinarian Dr. Trevor Gerlach said. “We just wanted to make sure everything was normal.”
Gerlach said his suspicions about manatees’ activities proved correct, and the female was OK.

“She had a couple of scars on her but nothing (fresh),” Gerlach said. “She was surface resting, but we did get to see her swim off. Half-beaching themselves is typical behavior.”

During breeding, male manatees often will surround a single female, each vying for a chance to mate. Their efforts can last all day, as with the manatees seen at Christian Retreat, Gerlach said.

The female sometimes will swim toward shallow waters, partially beaching herself, to rest. She is not in danger at that time unless the tide goes out and she is unable to swim away, Gerlach said.

Because male manatees have strong reproductive drives, however, they sometimes will pursue injured females relentlessly. Females who do not appear to be breathing regularly or have not submersed themselves for long periods of time may need assistance.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].