A Manatee Walked Right Up To My Boat 2024

Back flippin' the Back Country Creeks and a friendly Manatee strolled right up to the boat....I see these beautiful swimmers during just about every trip into the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge here on the Florida Nature Coast!!

[@davestredulinsky]

Awesome to see the manatee that close. Thank you, my friend.

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Dave!! Most folks never see them use their front finns in action.....I know since I changed motors the T's are not as skiddish like they were with the noisy 2 stroke.....Did you know they are cousins to Elephants....See Ya!!

[@clayheitt6028]

Never gets old

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Clay!! Yesterday I was in a spring fed creek and had a freight train of a Manatee come by the boat.....Crusty Brown Barnacled Back but no prop scars.....This new motor just doesn't seem seem to bother them too much.....Sea Ya!!

[@johnotooledoggames2336]

🇮🇪 very nice sharing of the beautiful lake very nice scenery of the fish 🐟

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks!! I find a lot of these gentle giants in the back country creeks!!

[@ABitefLife]

They are beautiful for sure. I used to see them lot when I was a kid on my grandparents boat

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Ryan!! I see so many of these beautiful swimmers in back country areas that have very limited boat traffic.....It really is the only way to survive in this day and age!!😎

[@21Swayzee]

That is awesome! I need to see one of these beautiful animals one day..

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks!! My new motor is so quiet the T's don't run like hell and as you can see they are very docile mammals.....Did you know they are cousins to the Elephant.....Enoy your week!

[@21Swayzee]

@@WesLovelace nice to have that quiet motor!!! So cool they are cousins to the Elephant as well!

[@BBQPITDOG]

They are just amazing Wes!

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Rob!! This new motor is allowing me to access these critters in the back country.....I came across 2 more yesterday behind the house.....They are an interesting mammal!!

[@WaynJul]

I am glad the Manatees are surviving.

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Wayn!! Most of my access is from running the back country creeks and this new motor is so quiet I'm getting close ups without scaring them to death.....That's the part I enjoy and they remain pretty well protected because of the limited boat traffic.....Enjoy your week!!

[@ILLBEDRONED]

Very cool Wes! Memorial Day 🙏🇺🇸 be safe brother!

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Dan-O!! Where I hang out in the back country is a safe haven for T's and my new motor allows me to get reel close!!

[@fishing4dinner]

I reckon it was stopping by to say howdy neighbor! The only other mammal that knows the back country better than Wes.

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Marc!! I'm not in a hurry in the back country or anywhere else for that matter where I see most of the activity and I'm constantly eyeballin' the water surface for Manatee wakes!!😎

[@GoMidwestFishing]

That's incredible! I didn't know manatee can walk. Very cool Wes.

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Rande!! I knew this headline might turn a few heads.....LOL....Did you know that they are a relative of elephants.....Have a great week!!😎👀

[@GoMidwestFishing]

@@WesLovelace I did not know that. I had to look it up just to see if you were messing with me.

[@WesLovelace]

@@GoMidwestFishing ......LOL.....
i was waiting for someone to say Clickbait ....You have to swim with these mammals to study their physiology in shallow water to see this trait....Did you know they are related to Elephants....They are truly a gentle giant....Sea Ya!!😎

[@OutandaboutoutdoorswithRon]

Cool visitor Wes!😊

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Ron!! My travels put me in contact with a lot of these mammals especially in the back country.....They are really at the mercy of speeding boats unless they stay in these remote areas!!😎

[@Backyardprojectguy]

Nice look for a big guy

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Ken!! The Refuge is full of Manatees.....It's about the only place the mammals are safe from the heavy coastal boat traffic!!

[@dronemafiaproduction.]

Gentle giant

[@WesLovelace]

DMP.....Thanks!! When the T's stay in the back country they are less likely to get run over....I'm always watching for the water surface distortions!!

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Martin!! Yesterday I was near the house and I had a freight train of a Manatee come by the boat....Not a scar to be had.....I do know the more they stay in the back country the less likely of getting sliced and diced!!😎

[@JohnAmes]

very cool my friend

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks John!! I really have to watch when I'm traveling in the back country.....I do know they are far safer in the Refuge because of very little prop traffic!!

[@DaveRobb]

I remember a longtime ago. I had a canoe went out fishing. I had a huge manatee picked the back end of the canoe up and moved me to a different area

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Dave!! The Refuge water wise is about 50 sq. miles along the coast and about 160 sq. miles total when you include the land mass. The Refuge is a safe haven for T's and I usually see several every time I'm on the water......I've also found out that this new 4 stroke doesn't seem to scare them!!

[@DpuckFishingandOutdoors]

He was inspecting your upgrades.

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Dug!! He/She forgot to bring a roll of hundreds.....LOL!!

[@RandolphRelicRecovery]

Sad that you rarely see one without prop marks on it.

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Martin!! I was behind the house in a Spring Fed Creek yesterday doing a number on the Redfish and came across 2 Manatees.....One was a freight train with a crusty back and no scars.....You get back where I go there is a far less chance of getting a prop scar!!

[@dogismyco-pirate]

Looking for a cabbage treat????

[@WesLovelace]

Thanks Nathan!! I'm not sure about a head of cabbage but until last year the State was feeding them Tons of Lettuce during the winter months when they stay near the active springs on both coasts!!