Canoeists Forced To Yield Right Of Way To Manatees

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- A group of manatees made it clear to canoeists that the right of way belongs to them when the canoeists met up with the sea cows in a narrow creek near St. Petersburg.

Michael McCarthy of See Through Canoe videotaped the encounter between canoes and manatees on Tuesday.

"The manatees were heading right so we each moved as far to the side of the creek as possible to let them pass. They stopped for a quick 'hello' and went on their way," said McCarthy.

McCarthy said, although manatees usually prefer larger bodies of water, canoeists occasionally encounter them in tighter spots.

"They sometimes go into creeks like this that are so small it must be hard to turn around," he said.

Video via Michael McCarthy