Destination: Bradenton
Happy Birthday, Snooty!
Snooty the Manatee
Editor's note: Sadly, Snooty passed away one day after his birthday celebration due to an unfortunate accident. The people of Southwest Florida who grew up visiting Snooty mourn his loss.
July is a big birthday month in my world, and if you think we women are a teensy bit sensitive about revealing our ages, you haven’t met my two guys. The younger one’s discovery of his first gray hair sent him flying to the “Just for Men” counter at the drug store. And the older one treated me to the evil eye for a week for putting a certain (true) number on his birthday cake. This year he may or may not get a cake.
Which is why I’m so excited about Snooty the Manatee’s 69th Birthday Bash & Wildlife Festival in Bradenton on Saturday, July 22. As far as marine scientists can tell, Snooty’s the oldest manatee in the world. It’s no wonder that he has far outlived a manatee’s average 50-year lifespan: he’s one seriously pampered trichechus manatus. He gets only the best organic grasses, fruits and vegetables, impeccable health care, and tons of love from his fans all over the world.
Snooty’s all-day outdoor birthday party will feature live music, free cookies, food trucks, games, activities, and awesome naturalist exhibits. Mote Marine’s shark tooth dig pit, touch tank, and other displays will be there, as well as Save the Manatee Club, Florida Forest Service, and State Park rangers.
The first-ever Snooty mascot will make his debut for photo ops at the festival. At noon, everyone will head over to the viewing window in the Spanish Plaza to sing as the birthday boy noses into his yummy raw birthday cake made of beets, kale, strawberries, and his other faves.
“Baby Snoots” was born in captivity in 1948 just a few hours before his mother died from a boat injury. He came to the South Florida Museum a year later, and has been a beloved Bradenton citizen ever since. Snooty presides over his own aquarium inside the museum, where he serves as a mentor for stressed-out and injured manatees in the rehab and release program. Right now, his little buddies are Baca, who is suffering from cold stress syndrome; Gale, an orphaned baby; and Randall, who got himself stuck in a culvert. Over six decades, Snooty has helped dozens of manatees prepare for rerelease into the wild. He’s also one smart cookie. Studying him has helped researchers determine that in many ways manatees are on the same intellectual level as dolphins.
Bradenton is north of Sarasota, about two hours from Naples. The free outdoor festival hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets to the museum’s inside exhibits, including Snooty’s aquarium and the state-of-the-art Bishop Planetarium, are half price all day. ($9.50 for adults; $7 for children; free for active military personnel, teachers, and kids under 3). The museum remains open until 5 p.m. SouthFloridaMuseum.org, 941-746-4131.
If you and the kids can’t make it to Snooty’s party, here are six other ways to feel the love.
1. Send a birthday card. For real. Hundreds flow in from all over the world. The address is: Snooty, South Florida Museum, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205.
2. Visit him anytime at the South Florida Museum, where he greets guests daily during demonstrations and feedings.
Snooty Cam Manatee
3. Check him out on the snootycam at www.southfloridamuseum.org.
4. Listen to manatee chatter, chewing and, umm, outrageous flatulence sounds here: www.savethemanatee.org/audio.htm
5. Adopt a manatee of your own! A huge manatee poster, adoption certificate, and even a stuffed manatee come with your package. savethemanatee.org.
6. Get a free bright yellow “Go Slow, Manatees Below” banner for your boat, kayak, or dock at savethemanatee.org.