The Not So Magical Florida Wildlife

Captiva Island is one of the many green islands Florida can count on. The tourists flood there to get some time off from the hectic work hours and to enjoy the nature they hardly ever get to see. That’s exactly what I planned on doing.

Of course, I went there in mid-August: daily thunderstorms and rare sun sightings. No beach for me. I had heard the water is see-through, I only saw the “where-the-hell-are-my-feet?” kind of water.

Not even one ferryboat left the harbor to go see the dolphins that week either. I hoped it would until the very end of each day and I stood by it just in case – I didn’t want to miss the one chance I had to get away, but the chance never came.

Only two things were left for me to do: look for crocodiles in the reserve on Sanibel, the island next door and play with the manatees in the harbor. Let´s see some magical wildlife and beautiful scenery!

Crocodile, Where are you?

I was pumped. Nothing could stop me from this adventure. I wanted a crocodile to cross the dirt street in the reserve so I could be scared . At this point I was desperate – give me an emotion to feel, any emotion!

I got my camera, fully charged, and approached J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel. I paid my 5 dollars per vehicle and entered. (1 dollar per biker/hiker) I parked on the side of all the major and unnoticed spots and waited. Waited. Waited some more. I got nothing, until I saw a small head emerging from the water under the rain. Yes! a tiny crocodile. It almost looked fake. I couldn’t contain my excitement and dropped my camera in the mud I saw the crocodile and it finally blinked to show me it was real. Too bad my camera was covered in post-thunderstorm muck.

The majestic manatee and its beautiful…bowel movements?

I then felt the urge to see the other symbolic animal of the Sunshine State: the manatee. If I had seen one tiny crocodile, I had to see the lazy, but adorable, sea cow in its natural habitat.

The next day I headed to the harbor and sat on the deck with my breakfast sandwich, ready to camp out. I was serene, at peace with the world. Then it happened. I heard noises from the water and the big grey back of a manatee appeared to me. It was incredible.

And then, not so incredible. The noises got louder and more distinct. It didn’t take me long to identify the noises – the manatee was farting wildly without shame. It proceeded to move back and forth – still farting – and it dove deep under the water. A couple seconds later, bubbles were on the surface where it had disappeared. More farting? No, one ridiculously small poop floated to the surface. So there you have it, the manatee farted and pooped AT me – if there is such a thing. I am pretty sure it was a Mr Manatee too, so much for being a gentleman.

Captiva Island was not what I expected, but I will never forget the time I almost saw an entire crocodile and the time a manatee pooped AT me!

Chiara Tarenzi is a poltical science student in Milan, Italy, hoping to become a very obnoxious journalist some day. She has a very large family split apart by the Atlantic Ocean: one side in Italy and the other in Philadelphia. She is a total American wannabe so BEWARE! She is also a beginner runner of half-marathons (very slow!) and intends to travel all over the globe to race and explore. Her favourite place in the entire globe has to be Crans Montana, an adorable small town hidden in the Swiss mountains.