Mammoth Sees the Manatees, Day 5

 Friday December 3 2021

Trip to Homaussa Springs. Great, but tiny wildlife park. Most of the captive animals  were rescues of some sort of other. Such as the two bobcats  (I think) that were raised as kittens by humans and illegally declawed. The pair of whooping cranes were an anomaly--the female was flightless due to a wing injury and the male had been brought there as part of an attempt to establish a flock. But he and the female bonded, and so he's stayed put every since. 

 

 

 

 

And the poor bald eagles--one had a wing that had to be amputated after an injury. It was sad to see him stuck on the ground after having seen two of his fellows soaring the day before.

They had a couple of pens of captive manatees, but the highlight of the day was the wild manatees that were nibbling at a pile of grass clippings by the gate. Big, torpid, leeches! Surrounded  by tons and tons of fish--more fish than I'd ever dreamed of seeing in a single place, and they were eating grass clippings. Yay, vegetarians!

Then we tried to see the Crystal River state park but it appeared google maps was taking us to the headquarters, not the park area with walking trails. We kept going around in circles around the building; finally, as we were leaving I saw what might have been the boardwalk area. But that's okay--it was late and we were ready to head back. Maybe a 1:45 drive is a big much for a single camping day, but now, finally, I've seen manatees!