I’ll start right off with it: I HATE cold weather! As an Indiana transplant, you might assume that I’d be accustomed to a bit of chilly weather. Well, think again. My blood has thinned, and my winter wardrobe has dwindled down to a light windbreaker and one foul-weather jacket. Good luck even finding a closed-toed pair of shoes in my closet. This past Monday wreaked havoc with my cold temperature intolerance as I found myself holding my knees to my chest and rocking back and forth beneath the heating duct in my condo, while my dog stared at me as though I had lost my mind.

OK, enough complaining. I should really focus on how fortunate I am to live in a place where 30-degree thermometer readings are few and far between. And although winter is my least favorite season, there is one thing about it that I love: Manatees are everywhere. That may sound strange to some, but these giant mammals are a welcomed sight to this biologist and eco-tour provider.