Watch: Manatee Crashes Florida Backyard

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A St. Petersburg woman got quite a surprise over the weekend when she found unusual visitors in her backyard.

It seems two manatees took advantage of high waters to pay her a personal visit. While Nancy Smith was simply thrilled with the sight of two manatees in her backyard, one of the critters proceeded to make itself right at home.

“One pulled itself up over the seawall and started snacking away on our freshly mowed grass,” Smith posted on Instagram, along with a video of the close encounter.

“OMG one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen happen … right in our own backyard,” she said.

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Smith explained that between the recent rains and tide, the water in her Riviera Bay neighborhood was up over her seawall by about a foot. That made it a little easier for the critter to take advantage of the grassy fare.

Evidently, the manatee was quite pleased with its quick meal. The critter returned the very next day, “pulled itself up, took a snack, backed up and swam away,” Smith reported.

Florida has a native manatee population that was estimated at 6,250 during a recent count conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The creatures, also known as sea cows, are protected by the state and federal governments.

Manatee lovers who want to help protect the critters in the wild can learn more about doing so by visit the Save the Manatee Club online. FWC also has a ton of information about manatees on its website.

Screenshot courtesy of Nancy Smith