Haulover Canal and the Manatee Observation Deck, Florida

 

“Water is the driving force of all nature.”

Leonardo Da Vinci

As we left Canaveral National Seashore, we headed back towards Titusville till we came upon a sign that said Haulover Canal this way. We decided to go check it out. Once again, we drove down long straight roads with beautiful tropical Fauna on either side till we came up the Haulover Canal Bridge. The first bridge was built here in 1887 and was constructed as a single lane bridge with a hand crank to open the drawbridge. In 1964, a taller bridge was built by NASA which added another lane. It was also a drawbridge but now was tall enough for many of the smaller boats to get through without opening the bridge.

The Haulover Canal is quite historic. In the earliest years, this area on Merritt Island that connects the Mosquito Lagoon to the Indian River was used by the Indians. They used to carry their canoes or small boats over this narrow part of land to get from one side to the other. That is how it got its name (Haulover). Later the settlers used rollers to drag their boats across. It wasn’t until 1852 when G. E. Hawes dug the first canal using slave labor. The canal was only dug to three feet deep and 44 feet wide. It was completed before the 3rd Seminole War (1856-1858).

The canal was later taken care of by the Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation Company who dug a deeper and wider canal. Steamboats, schooners, and cargo ships used the passage until the railroad arrived in 1885. It is now maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The canal is quite picturesque. One side of the canal is a popular fishing spot for many people. There are areas in the shade all along the canal to set up a nice fishing spot. It was packed when we drove down to see it. It must have been good fishing as we didn’t see any sites available that afternoon.

On the other side of the road, we saw a sign for the Manatee Observation Deck. This is a popular place for spotting manatees. They congregate here when the water temperature is above 70 degrees. We drove into the viewing area to check them out. The canal itself is a great spot to watch the wildlife. We saw many beautiful birds resting on the banks of this canal. 

We got up to the deck just in time to see a large manatee swimming by. We first spotted a smooth circular patch in the water which is known as a “footprint”. Then the magnificent beast surfaced for some air. What a beautiful, prehistoric creature to see. They are known as “sea cows” and are also affectionately called “Gentle Giants”. 

That first day we stopped, we only saw two. We stopped back there four times during our stay in Florida, and the most we saw were five at a time. We heard in the summer, the sightings slow down. A couple local people told us, there used to be a lot more here but the grasses are dying here from chemicals getting into the river which is starving the manatees. They lost over 880 manatees from January 1, 2021. That is over 400 more than last year during the same time. Many also have been injured or killed by careless boaters. We did see one that had a huge white gash in it from a boaters prop.

We enjoyed reading the signs and learning about the manatees. We learned they can stay under water for up to 15 minutes before coming up to breathe. Adult manatees can grow up to 10 feet long and can weigh between 800 and 1,200 pounds. Baby calves weigh between 60 – 70 pounds and are 3 – 4 feet long at birth. They eat sea grass and other vegetation and will eat 10-15 % of their body weight in a day. They can live to be over 60 years old. 

Manatees can adapt between salt water and fresh water. They are solitary animals who spend 50 % of their day sleeping under water and the rest of the day grazing. They can swim 3 – 5 mph but have been known to swim up to 20 mph in a short burst. They will breed once every two years and usually only have one calf. The gestation is about 12 months and then to wean the calf takes another 12 – 18 months. During the winter they head into the rivers where it is warmer. If they are in water less than 68 degrees, they tend to stop eating since they are so cold. They are said to be smart like dolphins.

All I know, is that they are an amazing creature to see and watch. We enjoyed so much, watching them gently gliding by in the clear waters of Florida. Pray that they will survive this hard time for them. 

This is a great stop while you out at Canaveral National Seashore. Come check it out and give our best to our water friends. Till next time. Bye for now.