I used to live across from the Miami river. Every fall, a family of manatees used to hang out in the area because they’d eat the vegetation from the brackish water. It was a family of 3, a mom, dad and baby. The baby had marks on its back from boats running over it, but it survived and grew up to have its own family. We knew this because we’d recognize the scars every year he’d come to the river!

We’d hand feed them heads of lettuce, yum. They really are remarkable creatures.