a

“AND FINALLY

 

14A The Levy County Journal The County Paper, Est. 1923 levyjournalontine.com Jan. 8, 2009
Springs welcome manatees for winter

Assistant Editor

 

Natural springs and
the Suwannee River make
the Levy County area an
aquatic paradise. Millions
of animals survive in this i ret
special ecosystem. With its [#2 eae ag See Pe ae bs ae
impressivesize,unimposing | e pa r “i Le 8 —
presence and gentle nature,
the Florida Manatee is one
such creature that calls this
area home.

Considered an
endangered species for
decades, the sighting
of a manatee is usually
considered a rare
occurrence, but during the
winter months these warm-
blooded creatures seek
refuge in the constant 72-
degree springs.

 

Amother and her calf c come up fora air in the run of Manatee Springs « on n Saturday. Manatees a are wannicbloodad mamamls, and therefore
must come to the surface for air every three to five minutes and seek refuge in the constant 72-degree waters of the springs during
the cold winter months. (Anna Suggs)
toys.
Manatee Awareness Month This Satitrday: from 10 a.m. ‘to 3 p.m., ‘the park rangers
Manatee Springs State Park, looking to assist its at Manatee Springs will host a musical reading of “I Am
namesake, has dedicated January as Manatee Awareness a Manatee,” a book by John Lithgow. Each park visitor,
Month. Between the months of December and March, the during that time will also have the SPHORURI, to make a
spring’s run, where the spring meets the river, is closed to . stuffed manatee toy.
kayaks and canoes, said park ranger and events coordinator On Jan. 17, Amy Teague from the Sirenia Project, a
Renee Waldo. Once the river drops to 68 degrees, manatees project from the U.S. Geological Survey for manatee
make their way to the run and sometimes spend the night ecology and population biology, will have a program at
in the actual spring to stay warm. the river pavilion at Manatee Springs. The program will
To increase knowledge about the manatees, the park include children’s games on how to identify a manatee.
has arranged activities and experts each Saturday of the. On Jan. 24, the park will have a presenter from the
‘month. On Saturday, Doug and Deb Brown, who have been Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. They will
members of the Save the Manatee Club since 1988, set up _ bring a. dark room theater to show pictures from manatee
shop and. educated springs visitors on the importance of rescues. They will also provide information on how rescues
the “sea cow.” - are made and new technology that is coming out to aid in,
; si manatee protection.
On Jan. 31, Dorvan
Daniels from the Florida
Fish and Wildlife .
Conservation Commission
will bring his special flats
boat with the T-top that is
used for manatee rescues.
‘Each event is free with
_ paid park admission.

~The Manatee
In 2007 there were |
1,817 manatees recorded ©
‘in Florida, based on the
Florida Fish and Wildlife’
Research Institute’s
synoptic aerial surveys.
These gentle giants grow
‘ to an average of 10 feet in
length and weigh bemncen

 

Everything works together in our ecosystem, Deb said. 900 to 1,200 monks
The manatee is like a canary in a mine, she said. The | Manatees are warm-blooded marine mammals, and
canaries, which are sensitive to methane and carbon therefore are required to surface in order to breathe
monoxide, were used to alert miners when the air was filled every three to five minutes. The calves, which stay with
with the dangerous gases. The manatee needs fresh water their mother for about a year after birth, surface. more
and so do humans. If the manatee is doing well, it means frequently.
theenvironment is doing well and man is doing well. . The manatee’s closest relative is the elephant, although
The Save the Manatee Club was established in 1981 they act more like a cow, grazing for vegetation and with a
by Jimmy Buffet and former governor Bob Graham so _ gentle nature, hence the nickname “sea cow,” Waldo said.
that the public could get involved with helping to save Anadult manatee eats about 10 to 15 percent ofits weight
‘the manatee from extinction. Membership requires the in seagrass and other vegetation every day, according to
adoption of a manatee, $25 per year, but adoption is not the commission. That can equal up to 180 pounds of food
the only way the club is involved. They also help with for a 1,200 pound-animal.
rescue and rehabilitation, provide assistance in federal Manatees have no natural enemies, but because they
and state research programs, are part of the U.S. Manatee are slow moving, must surface for air and prefer to eat
Recovery Team, provide speakers (like Doug and Deb) and in shallow areas, they are more vulnerable to watercraft
information for educational purposes, and more. collisions, according to Save the Manatee Club.
On Saturday, Doug and Deb handed out fliers and ' Most people think manatees are killed by boat propellers,
information, presented a slide show and sold plush manatee Manatee Springs Park Ranger Waldo said. While that is
a problem and most manatees are identified by the scars

made by propellers, the manatee’s main mortality threat
Suwannee Val EMV] by boats is being struck by the hull. Despite popular belief,

VET ERIN ARY CLINIC the manatee is not a fatty animal. Their spines are located

about an inch below the skin along the back. When a
manatee is struck by a boat, there is a chance its ribs, which
arch upward to allow the lungs to be positioned high along
the spine, will PEC, the NSS causing the animal to die,

 

* Preventative Care, Medicine,
Surgery & Dentistry Waldo said.

- Convenient appointments available - In 2008, there were 337 fecotded manatee deaths in
* Three year vaccines for dogs and cats Florida. Watercraft accounted for 90 deaths, or about 27
* Early morning drop-off service percent of manatee mortality, according to Florida Fish and
* Personal, compassionate service

» Warm caring staff Wildlife Conservation Commission. Cold stress accounted
* Finance plans available through Care for 25 deaths, or about 13 percent. The leading cause of

“Tiger” Credit manatee death was perinatal, or newborn, at 101 deaths,
iis a about 30 percent.

‘ Office Hours ; .
Mon. -Fri. 8am - 6 yy

SE gan Ons, AO ay h Whether you’re taking a walk on the boardwalk along
www.suwanneevalleyvet.com LA TT Nive the spring’s run at Manatee Springs or you’re out on the es
: . PRT ots river, make sure you look out for the gentle creatures that Deb and Doug Brown, mornbors of Save the Manatee
4 eo 6} -() | Dy 6} Christopher Columbus, upon first seeing a manatee in the Club, at Manatee Springs State Park Saturday
New World in 1493, believed to be mermaids. to educate park visitors of the importance of the

. manatee. (Anna Suggs)

{ . r t ‘