Who let the manatees out?
Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Colin have transformed some coastal Florida backyards into rivers, and that's where one homeowner has spotted a couple of “sea cows” over the past few days, just munching on her lawn.
Nancy Smith of St. Petersburg captured one of the big guys on video, lounging around without a care in the world. The herbivores can grow up to the 13-feet long and 1,300 pounds.
Shear Bad Luck: English Lamb Born Without Fleece Gets Man-Made Sweater Inky the Octopus Stages Daring Nighttime Escape From New Zealand Aquarium Baby Elephant Rescued From Open Drain in Sri Lanka“Everyone loves manatees,” Smith told ABC Tampa affiliate WFTS-TV. “They are my gentle giants.”
The downpour caused the tide to rise above the seawall, pushing the aquatic mammals further inland.
Manatees "usually spend up to eight hours a day grazing on seagrasses and other aquatic plants,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission notes.