MANATEE SPRINGS STATE PARK

11650 N.W. 115TH STREET

CHIEFLAND, FLORIDA   32626
Table of content
1. Introduction
2. Manatee
3. Black Vulture
4. Armadillo
5. Gulf Fritillary
6. White-tailed Fawn
7. Red-Shouldered Hawk
8. Roses
9. golden-crowned night heron
10. bamboos
 Manatee Spring Park
A first magnitude spring, Manatee
Springs discharges an average 100
million gallons of water every day.
This water comes from rain that
falls on lands within a 40 mile
radius from the spring.
Geologically the surrounding lands
resemble a sponge, with sand and
the underlying limestone quickly
transferring rainfall into deep
caverns that deliver the water to
the spring from every direction,
but mostly from the south and east.
The spring is a source of life for
many species of fish, reptiles, mammals, birds and invertebrates. From
November through April, manatees use the spring's life-giving waters for
warmth. During those months the Suwannee River and Gulf of Mexico waters
are colder than the constant 72 degrees of the spring. Popular for swimming,
snorkeling and scuba diving, the headwaters of the spring are an outstanding
year-round experience for people as well. The spring run forms a sparkling
stream that meanders through towering cypress, tupelo and other wetland
trees to join the Suwannee River. During the summer months, huge
prehistoric-looking Gulf sturgeon can be seen leaping out of the river as they
have done for eons. Enjoy the spring run view by canoe/kayak or on foot
along our boardwalk. Children can enjoy a playground in the picnic area,
where tables, grills and pavilions are available for family fun. Hiking and
biking adventures a wait on the north end trail system.
 Facts
West Indian manatees are large, gray aquatic
mammals with bodies that taper to a flat,
paddle-shaped tail. They have two forelimbs,
called flippers, with three to four nails on
each flipper. Their head and face are
wrinkled with whiskers on the snout. The
manatee's closest relatives are the elephant
and the hyrax (a small, gopher-sized
mammal). Manatees are believed to have
evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal.
The West Indian manatee is related to the
West African manatee, the Amazonian
manatee, the dugong, and Steller's sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768. The average
adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds.

Manatees can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and
coastal areas — particularly where seagrass beds or freshwater vegetation flourish. Manatees are a
migratory species. Within the United States, they are concentrated in Florida in the winter. In
summer months, they can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, but
summer sightings in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina are more common. West Indian
manatees can also be found in the coastal and inland waterways of Central America and along the
northern coast of South America, although distribution in these areas may be discontinuous.

Manatees are gentle and slow-moving animals. Most of their time is spent eating, resting, and
traveling. Manatees are completely herbivorous. They eat a large variety of submerged, emergent,
and floating plants and can consume 10-15% of their body weight in vegetation daily. Because they
are mammals, they must surface to breathe air. They may rest submerged at the bottom or just
below the surface of the water, coming up to breathe on an average of every three to five minutes.
When manatees are using a great deal of energy, they may surface to breathe as often as every 30
seconds. When resting, manatees have been known to stay submerged for up to 20 minutes.
Manatees can swim up to 20 miles per hour in short bursts, but they usually only swim about three
to five miles per hour.

West Indian manatees have no natural enemies. As with all wild animal populations, a certain
percentage of manatee mortality is attributed to natural causes of death such as cold stress,
gastrointestinal disease, pneumonia, and other diseases. A high number of additional fatalities are
from human-related causes. Most human-related manatee fatalities occur from collisions with
watercraft. Other causes of human-related manatee mortality include being crushed and/or
drowned in canal locks and flood control structures; ingestion of fish hooks, litter, and
monofilament line; and entanglement in crab trap lines. Ultimately, loss of habitat is the most
serious threat facing the approximately 3,800 manatees in the
United States today.

Question: what is the life expectancy for a manatee?

 Facts
The Black
Vulture’s
scientific
name comes
from korax,
the Greek
word for
raven; gyps,
which
means
vulture; and
from the
Latin word
atratus,
meaning to
be clothed
in black, as
in
mourning. The common name, Vulture, comes from the Latin vulturus meaning
“tearer.”

 Unlike Turkey Vultures, this species depends upon its vision to find food.
 A lone bird is no match for the slightly larger Turkey Vulture. But they are
commonly found in flocks which can easily drive away the more solitary Turkey
Vulture.
 A group of vultures has many collective nouns, including a "cast", "committee",
"meal", "vortex", and "wake" of vultures

Question: Black Vulture: Resident in southeastern_________, south to the tropics; preferred habitats
include open country, but breeds in woodlands and thickets.

A= U.S and Europe

B= South Africa
C= U.S. and Texas
D= South America
 Facts
 Contrary to popular belief, the nine-banded armadillo CANNOT roll itself into a ball to
escape predators!! Only one of the twenty-odd varieties of armadillos -- the three-banded
armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus ) -- is able to roll up. The other types are covered with
too many bony plates to allow them to curl up. Other armadillos have to rely on their
armored shells for defense while they scuttle away through thick, thorny brush or dig
themselves a hole to hide in.

 Armadillos always give birth to four identical young -- the only mammal known to do so.

 Armadillos are used in leprosy research because their body temperatures are low enough
for them to contract the most virulent form of the disease. Some female armadillos being
used for research have given birth to young long after they were captured -- up to two
years afterwards, in some cases! These "virgin births" are a result of the female's ability
to delay implantation of the fertilized egg during times of stress. This reproductive tactic
is one reason why the 'dillos are so good at colonizing new areas (such as the United
States!).

 Baby armadillos have soft shells, like human fingernails. They get harder as the
animal grows, depositing bone under the skin to make a solid shell

 Armadillo teeth have no enamel (the hard outer covering of the tooth). They also have
very few teeth -- just several peg-like molars. Since they primarily eat insects, they don't
have to do a lot of heavy chewing, making big, strong teeth a waste of energy to grow.

 Like most insect eating mammals, armadillos have a very long, sticky tongue to slurp up
bugs as quickly as possible. They also are equipped with strong claws to tear open ant
nests.

 One way they conserve energy is through reta mirabila (Latin for
"miraculous net")-- a system of veins and arteries in their
legs. Hot blood going out through arteries is
cooled by cold blood coming in
through veins, and vice versa. This
means that not much heat actually goes
out into the legs, keeping it in the body.
This also means they will get frostbitten
very easily, since they have no way to
warm their extremities through blood
flow.

 According to the Department of Inland

Fisheries and Wildlife, it is illegal to own
an armadillo in the state of Maine. Hawaii
has strict regulations against the import of any foreign
animal, including armadillos. The state of Montana classifies them as
 livestock, and regulates their import accordingly
Questions: How many babies does a Armadillo lay at one time?

Facts
The wings of this butterfly are like stained glass,
artfully designed to maximize the
beauty and light in a garden. The
Gulf Fritillary is similar in size
to the Monarch, but can be
distinguished by the large
grey patches on the
underside of the wing.
The wings are quite long
and can gracefully carry
this butterfly way out
over the water in the Gulf
region. Before full
maturation, the chrysalis
looks much like a hanging
dead leaf yet the larvae are
quite unique with a bright
orange body decorated with dark
spikes. This butterfly is richly colored orange
with orderly dark spots in the center and along the edge of
the wing. One of the most striking species, you will be glad your garden attracted this butterfly

Question: How long is a Gulf Fritillary wings?

A= 2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches

B= 3 1/4 – 4 4/3
C= 4 ¼ - 5 5/3

D= None of the above

Fact

In the spring and summer months, the coat of a white tailed deer is reddish-brown in
color. In the fall and winter, the coat turns to a duller grayish-brown color. The coat of a
young deer, fawn, is reddish in color with white spots. The spots normally disappear in
3-4 months, by winter time, as the winter coat begins to grow. As the name implies, the
under side of the tail is white.

The male white tailed deer, buck, normally weighs about 130-300 pounds. The female,
doe, weighs about 90-200 pounds. The average height is 3 feet.

One fun fact about the white tailed deer is the male will regrow a set of antlers every
year. During the first year of his life, he will grow a single spike antler and by the age of
three, he will have about 8 points on his antlers. In late fall, when the mating season is
over, the antlers will shed off and in the beginning of summer, new antlers begin to
grow. About 1 in 10,000 female deer have antlers; however, this normally occurs
because the deer has both male and female characteristics.

The white tailed deer is native to the United States. They can be found in all states
except California, Nevada, Utah, Alaska, and Hawaii (the black tailed deer, a close
relative, can be found in these areas). The white tailed deer is also native to Canada,
Mexico, and Central and South America.

The larger deer can be found in the northern parts of the U.S. and Canada while the
smaller deer live further south. Most live in forests but many can adapt to other habitats,
including farmland, swamps, and deserts.

The diet of the white tailed deer varies, depending on the time of the year. In the
summer, they normally eat green plants, aquatic plants, nuts, and fruits. In the fall, they
mostly eat evergreen plants and grasses. In the winter, they basically survive off of
woody plants.

Another fun fact about the white tailed deer is their stomach has four chambers and
each one functions differently. After eating quickly, to avoid predators, they will find a
safe area to rest and digest their food. To improve digestion, they will regurgitate their
food, chew it for a second time, and swallow.

The female white tailed deer is very protective of her young. When searching for food,
the mother will hide her offspring until they are old enough to follow her, about 4 weeks
of age. The fawn will lie quietly on the ground and its spots will help camouflage him or
her from predators.

The white tailed deer will raise its tail to expose the white underside to warn other deer
of danger. The female deer will raise it to make it easier for her young to follow her.

Question: White tailed deer can run as fast as_____ jump as high as,_____ and leap as far
as____ feet. They are also very good swimmers.
Answer key
1. 60 years or more
2. C= U.S. and Texas
3. This mammal gives birth to four identical armadillo babies.
4. 2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches
5. 36 mph, 8 1/2 feet, 30