River Ventures

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River Ventures Tour Company announces the acquisition of River Safaris

River Ventures Tour Company announces the acquisition of River Safaris

(March 26th, 2016 – Crystal River, FL) – River Ventures is proud to add the River Safari team to our family! River Ventures specializes in manatee snorkel tours, eco-education and is excited to expand their air boat and scalloping operations to Homosassa. River Ventures has been growing steadily in Crystal River since 2010 and the merger with River Safaris just feels like a natural fit! Recently…

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More Than 6,000 Manatees Spotted in Florida—A Record

More Than 6,000 Manatees Spotted in Florida—A Record

There may be good news for Florida’s favorite sea cows.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently reported a record minimum count of 6,250 manatees in its annual aerial survey of the state’s waters, which includes sites with large manatee gatherings. This breaks the last record of 5,077 manatees in 2010.

Though this is just a minimum count and not necessarily a trend, the…

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Florida Road Trip: Top Things To Do In Citrus County

Florida Road Trip: Top Things To Do In Citrus County

Just an hour drive northwest of Orlando on the Gulf, Citrus County is the perfect place for travelers to get the perfect dose of Old Florida. Home to protected parks, endangered West Indian manatees and old-fashioned museums, the area offers fun and wonderful opportunities unique only to this part of Florida. On your next road trip through the state, do not skip Citrus County. Plan to stay a…

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Three Sisters Springs Bank Stabilization Project

Three Sisters Springs Bank Stabilization Project

Project Overview The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be restoring the shoreline around Three Sisters Springs to repair the eroded shoreline and prevent future erosion. These improvements will benefit the Crystal River/Kings Bay spring system by restoring habitat, including critical manatee habitat, and increasing the safety for people.

Background The shoreline…

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Pilot Project Brings Benefits to Hunters Cove

Pilot Project Brings Benefits to Hunters Cove

District scientists already are seeing benefits from the Hunters Cove Revegetation Pilot Project after just a couple months.

Senior environmental scientists from the District, with assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, conducted fish surveys in January of the fenced areas of eelgrass, which are part of the District’s revegetation project. They found 11 different…

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Manatee fatally struck in Fisherman's Channel

Manatee fatally struck in Fisherman’s Channel

A dead manatee found Friday morning in Fisherman’s Channel sparked rumors that this weekend’s boat show was to blame, but with no witnesses to the crime to say otherwise, experts say that’s probably not the case.

The adult male manatee was found early Friday in Fisherman’s Channel, between Dodge Island and Fisher Island. Boat show spokesperson Kelly Penton said this area is outside of boat show…

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‘Beautiful’ Manatees steeped in history

‘Beautiful’ Manatees steeped in history

The dive boat pulled up to the dock.

A face appeared in the water, displayed its pink tongue, and then sang in a haunting beautiful voice:

“Come away with me and we’ll kiss — On a mountaintop — Come away with me — And I’ll never stop loving you.” (Written and performed by Norah Jones on her 2002 song “Come Away With Me.”)

The vision faded. I actually was looking at a manatee, a member of an…

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Public weighs in on manatees' 'endangered' status

Public weighs in on manatees’ ‘endangered’ status

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Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Megan Sorbo, 10, tells the federal agency that a boat hitting a manatee has an impact “like a human getting hit by a bus.”

ORLANDO — A dispute more than a decade in the making over whether Florida’s manatees should still be considered “endangered” continued Saturday in a hotel ballroom in Orlando.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service…

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Cold snap helps researchers study manatees

Cold snap helps researchers study manatees

http://up.anv.bz/latest/anvload.html?key=eyJtIjoiU1BTIiwicCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJ2IjoiNDI1MDg5IiwicGx1Z2lucyI6eyJkZnAiOnsiY2xpZW50U2lkZSI6eyJhZFRhZ1VybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9wdWJhZHMuZy5kb3VibGVjbGljay5uZXQvZ2FtcGFkL2Fkcz9zej0xeDEwMDAmaXU9LzM0NjgvanJuLmZveDRub3cvbmV3cy9kZXRhaWwmY2l1X3N6cz0zMDB4MjUwJmltcGw9cyZnZGZwX3JlcT0xJmVudj12cCZvdXRwdXQ9eG1sX3Zhc3QzJnVudmlld2VkX3Bvc2l0aW9uX3N0YXJ0PTEmdXJsPVtyZWZlcnJlcl91cm…

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Florida Manatee

Florida manatee (present in Kings Bay and Crystal River NWR year-round, but highest aggregation November – March = approx. 600 manatees vs. summer months = approx. 30 manatees).

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus). These aquatic mammals have elongated round bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail.…

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Manatee Confab Breaks Records

Manatee Confab Breaks Records

Manatees know a good thing when they see it.

At least that seems to be the case in Citrus County where record-breaking numbers of manatees are congregating in the warm waters near Crystal River.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had to shut down access to Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River when an estimated 300 sea cowsmoved into the area to enjoy the warmer waters. Now,…

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MANATEES AND GREEN SEA TURTLES ARE OUT OF IMMEDIATE EXTINCTION DANGER

MANATEES AND GREEN SEA TURTLES ARE OUT OF IMMEDIATE EXTINCTION DANGER

According to the US Wildlife and Fish Service, manatees and green sea turtles are out of immediate extinction danger. This is due to the fact that their numbers have slightly increased, but it doesn’t mean that they are entirely safe, they just made a step back from being declared endangered to being categorized as being threatened. There is still a lot of work and time needed for them to be…

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Captain Wade must of told this manatee quite the comical joke to get such a laugh out of him!

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These two lovey dovey manatees need to get a room!

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Hold my hand when we cross the channel, honey

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In water guide, Maureen was able to capture a sight not many get to see. A manatee eating vegetation off the land! At times the manatees will come out of the water just for a special treat! Great footage, Mo!