Manatees @ Vero??????????

[Dizma]

Does anyone know if there is a place in or near Vero to see some manatees?
Thanks!

 

[bobbiwoz]

When I asked this question a few years ago, people mentioned Sebastian Inlet. We intend to try that out this March. This is from the Florida State Park site:

FISHING MUSEUM TALKS
Fishing Museum talks are on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. Join a Park Ranger for an informative interpretive program at the Sebastian Fishing Museum on Thursdays, at 1:00 p.m. Some of the topics covered are sea turtles, manatees, Florida snakes, land crabs, history of Sebastian Inlet, sea beaning, flounder fishing, snook & redfish fishing, pompano fishing, surf fishing, fishing though the seasons, how to smoke fish and how to garden for Florida's butterflies. Interactive recreational interpretive program topics include, how to make and throw a castnet, barrier island plant identification walk, a leisurely stroll along side of Sebastian Inlet, bird watching, beach walk and canoe/kayak tours. For information on upcoming programs call (321) 984-4852 or (772) 589-9659. The Fishing Museum interpretive programs are not held on holidays or in June and July. NO PETS.
Call (321) 984-4852 for more details.

Also, we went to the Harborside Oceanographin Instititue in Ft. Pierce and saw manatees in the inlet there.

Bobbi

 

[mbhoxsie]

You also may want to try the Oceanigraphic Institute tour that Eb & Flo's provides... I believe its $35 or so per person and you can usually spot manatees on that..

 

[Nadine&Scott]

We stayed at Vero Dec 3-9 and took the kayak adventure offered at Ed and Flo's for $40 per person with the DVC discount. They take you to the Indian River lagoon and we got up close and personal with several Manatees it was awesome, and we saw 3 dolphins as well, one jumped out of the water a bout 10 feet from my kayak.

Scott

 

[Mahusky]

I have seen them over at Sqid Lips as well!

 

[tiffany123]

If you ask at the front desk, a CM will be able to give you directions to a nearby power plant. The waters outside this plant are a favorite home to the manatees during cooler weather. There is even a designated manatee viewing parking area at the plant. Only a few miles from the resort.

 

[Dizma]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like they are plentiful in the area.

 

[Poohs Pal]

If you ask at the front desk, a CM will be able to give you directions to a nearby power plant. The waters outside this plant are a favorite home to the manatees during cooler weather. There is even a designated manatee viewing parking area at the plant. Only a few miles from the resort.

We were also told about this spot from vero beach staff. We did make the trip over. It was a short drive. We did not see anything. We did get to speak to a city worker who saw us and came over to talk. He did explain that it is usually cooler weather that they hang out at the rocks so they can get the heat from the plant. He also said that when you can see the smoke coming out of the stacks you have a better chance of seeing the animals(the area around the rocks will be warmer.) Susan

 

[jjpenguin]

there is the Manatee observation and education center in Fort Pierce, very interesting and some manatees hang out there sometimes too. They also gave us some tips for beaches and lagoons where you can see them. I can't remember the name but there was a small beach a couple of miles further down on the way to Vero and we saw a few playing in the water there.

 

[Par8hed]

We were lucky enough to encounter one swimming with us right at the resort!
Very close to shore as well. Once we knew it was a manatee it was great fun.

 

[Tigger1]

We road bikes to Sebastion park three years ago in May. We saw several Manetees. Later that day we saw some at the resort. Very cool.

Tigger

 

[JimMIA]

Hopefully, you'll all have good luck this year. Fortunately the Atlantic Coast is better than the Gulf Coast right now, so there's hope.

We've had some water management problems the last two years because of hurricanes and the result has been extensive red tides and manatee mortality. In Everglades National Park, we discovered 11 manatee carcasses in one week in late November 2006. We believe that is due to a combination of actions with Lake Okeechobee, which caused a red tide moving south along the Gulf Coast from Ft. Myers. Flushing to tide also occurred via the St. Lucie River, but the depth and current in the Atlantic probably minimized the overall effect there.