Pete and Paula took us out to see the stingrays! He bought a bunch of squid (bait) and we actually fed them! They very "domesticated" and "tame" because they were used to people coming there and feeding them, but if you weren't careful they'll suck your fingers off! (they do have teeth!)
It was pretty freaky at first - they swarm you and slide all around your legs and they feel so slimey! I learned that their stingers are actually at the base of their bodies up higher on their tails, not at the end of their tails. I always pictured them snapping their tails like a whip to sting you and that that's where their stingers are, but that's not how it is. They did tell us to watch out for the little baby ones b/c they're skiddish and don't know what's going on and if you step on one accidentally, they could sting you.
Most of the stingrays there that we saw were the mama ones. The daddies stay out in the deep water and then at night the mamas swim back out to sleep with them there.
Amazing creatures! Very beautiful and graceful and not as scary as I used to think...
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