Today we went to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, about an hour north of where we are staying.
Visitors to this park can see West Indian manatees every day of the year from the park's underwater observatory in the main spring and also in the lakes as they swim from area to area. The park showcases native Florida wildlife, including manatees, black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, American alligators, American crocodiles, and river otters.
We had the perfect day, weatherwise. Sunny skies and about 75 degrees. Here are some pics from our day at Homosassa. As usual for Florida, the park is well maintained with many walkways thru the park.
First order of the day was lunch in the park restaurant. After burgers and fries we boarded the pontoon boat for the ride up Pepper Creek to the viewing area of wildlife.
This is Gi-Gi the two headed turtle. The park ranger told us that each head thinks independently of the other and both think they are in charge! The ranger said that sometimes Gi-Gi doesn't move for hours because one head wants the body to go right and the other wants to go left so there it sits in a standoff. In this picture one half of GiGi was very photogenic and the other just turned its head away as I snapped the picture.
Some of the many American Alligators sunning themselves.
This is one of seven manatees that call Homosassa home. This picture doesn't really give you an idea of how big these creatures of the sea are. These manatees are here because they were injured by boat motors or born here. They were nursed back to health and then kept here because they are an endangered species.
This is Ariel, a manatee that was born here in the park. This picture was taken during one of the 3 daily "shows" where the park ranger gets in the water with the manatees talking all the while about their habits, etc.
The park's resident manatees make the first magnitude spring their home along with fresh and salt water fish that are free to come and go. The Fish Bowl, a floating underwater observatory offers an unequalled, below-the-surface view of manatees and fish in the crystal clear spring environment. Here are two pictures that were taken while we were in the Fish Bowl. All the while Bob was wishing he had a fishing pole with him!
These next pictures of the animals and birds we saw as we walked through the park.
How in the world do those legs hold that body up?
A proud American Bald Eagle.
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