Is it possible for a manatee to be in a river in Indiana – the White River in Indianapolis? I know I saw one.?

I was in my canoe paddling downstream and saw a large ripple, about 2-3 feet in my direction, laying of 15-20 feet. As I passed the vigil, I saw what I first thought was an enormous turtle, as a hump was evident. I put the electric motor and a circle, keeping a distance of twenty yards. No head, no tail, no dorsal fin and hump was not a deposit, but a gentle mound scab. Whatever it was never returned, never sank under, never varied his speed, which was what the lowest speed on my motor was. I stayed with him for nearly twenty minutes. Finally, I had to go and nobody told me about this can think of what might be. I just read about a manatee in the East River in New York and I realize that the manatee would be much more likely to be on the east coast rather than the means of Indiana, but ….? PS I thought it might be some mechanized horrible joke, but once more ….?

In general, all "rogue" manatees I have heard of the head usually come to Florida and up the east coast. I'm not sure what route mad their "manatee" would have had to take. Sounds pretty unlikely, however.

White River Canoe Trip – Summer 2009

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