Time for family and manatees

Monday and Tuesday we spent the time with our grandson. Last February we took him to the Manatee Viewing Center on Tampa Bay. Monday we went north of Tampa to Crystal River and the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. My former student and friend, Michael Lusk, is the Refuge Manager. He took us into some areas not normally accessible to the public.

We started our visit at the Visitor’s Center, where we learned about the manatees and others animals that visit the refuge center or make it their home.

Visitors Center at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.

Because the water was at low tide it appears that the manatees are resting on the bottom of the inlet. People are allowed to swim with the manatees, but not in the roped off area.

Manatees at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins

From another point we have a clearer view of the manatees.

Manatees at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

We wrote about the manatees here, and called attention to the claim that they are related to the elephant and the hydrax.

“The closest animal relative to the manatee is the elephant and the hydrax (a small gopher-size mammal).”

The hydrax or Rock Badger is mentioned in the book of Proverbs among things that are small, but exceedingly wise. There is a great lesson here. Even though they are not mighty, they build their homes in secure places. This is similar to the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:24-25. Notice the reading of  Proverbs 30:26 in a few of the English translations:

The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks; (NAU)

rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags; (NET)

the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; (ESV)

hyraxes are not a mighty people, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; (CSB)

Rock Badger at En Gedi. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.