I had a helper today

I have not told you about the PNNL research project yet.  I will get to that in another post. But the latest phase of the PNNL research ended yesterday.  It is now time to clean up.

So this afternoon I went to the boathouse to pull the saltwater pump. To manage the removal, I had to lie on the deck and work under said deck. I was not too aware of anything other than the pump with which I was fighting. Suddenly the surrounding water in my limited view went dark. I admit to a tiny bit of concern...until I realized it was a manatee swimming very closely by.  I learned from my previous manatee experience (Hmmm.   I will have to check to make sure I told you of that day) I should provide him some fresh water. So off I ran to get the hose stretched to his location.

Sure enough, they REALLY like fresh water. This guy's fresh water appetite
seemed insatiable. But I am not used to watering a 1000 pound animal so his thirst might be normal.

The pictures I took were not the real story. But I could not take pictures while holding the hose in his mouth. I laid on the dock, took the end of the hose in my hand and offered the water to him. His stiff whiskered nose routed at my hand trying to push my hand out of the way. I gave him a little bit of the hose which he took into his mouth. I figured it was worth the repair to the hose to have this experience. With the hose clamped in his mouth he just hung on the hose. His body literally hanging down, unmoving.  The water pouring into him as if from a large straw.  However he was SO gentle.  He was weightless on the hose; not pulling in the least. And the hose that was clamped in his mouth was undamaged. What a gentle giant!

I got tired of watering him before he got enough.  I pulled the hose from his mouth. He did not resist in the least.  He floated there, nostrils open breathing gently, beady tiny eyes watching me, anticipating the hose's return.  I put my hand on his head. He did not like that and submerged a couple inches but only for a second. He raised his head back to the surface and eyed the hose expectantly.

I returned to working on the pump. But he stuck around. In the picture of the pump you will see him underwater but close.  You can see boat propellor scars on his back (a very common problem). He went off and munched on plant growth on the boathouse frame. But he would return for another shot of water.  This continued for an hour. Finally I had to leave the boathouse.  I spritzed the creek water with the hose a couple times. He came over immediately for a final gulp of freshwater.

I have looked for him every time I am near the boathouse. I hoped the freshwater drinking fountain would keep him around.  But he has not returned...yet.

cz, 0430 5/14/15