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High tide gives family of manatees free buffet

Posted at 10:05 PM, Jun 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-07 14:30:13-04

For the past two days around 10 a.m. a couple of manatees have made it a point to swim into one St. Petersburg woman’s backyard and enjoy a feast of her lawn.

Nancy Smith said she doesn’t mind feeding the manatees, they can come back anytime.

“Everyone loves manatees,” Smith said.  “They are my gentle giants.”

Smith posted video of the manatees on her Instagram page and immediately the views started rolling in.

“I’ve never seen a manatee go across a sea wall. Have you?  It was so fascinating, it was so exciting to see it.  I'm grateful my dog didn't see it cause she would've scared her away.”

Smith said the manatees hung out for an hour each day and then went back into the bay.  Her NE St. Petersburg home is on a narrow channel so she sees manatees every now and again, but nothing like this.  She gave her husband a little credit for getting the manatees attention with such a well manicured, green grass.

“He grows and mows, he is my master gardener,” Smith said.