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2016 Wildlife Photo Contest

Manatee, Ichetucknee Springs State Park, USA
Ichetucknee Springs Manatees

Species: Manatee | Location: Ichetucknee Springs State Park, USA

While paddling down the crystalline Ichetucknee River in Florida with my sister, all I could think about was manatees. I had never seen one before and heard that they often times spend the winter in the springs, but they're not always easy to spot. I couldn't contain my excitement when we saw about half a dozen throughout the day! While breaking for lunch, we had the pleasure of watching this mother and calf playfully swimming around us.

About The Photographer

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Environmental communicator based out of Boulder, Colorado. Communications Director at the WILD Foundation, MA candidate in Media & Public Engagement at the University of Colorado, with a focus on human-predator conflicts and visual storytelling. Received my Bachelor's from Kent State University in Photo-illustration.

Follow Melanie on Instagram: @mel_shmel
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