Dolphin Tales: Manatee rescue

Capt. Cathy Eagle. PHOTO PROVIDED

On Wednesday, Aug. 9, I turned my truck west out of Matlacha Isles in the early afternoon and found myself behind a Sea World Animal Rescue Team truck. The truck turned south at the four corners and headed west onto Maria Drive where there is a commercial seaport, however, it veered right onto property that clearly was private.

I witnessed yet another release of a healthy manatee involving a coordinated effort between SeaWorld and the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC). It is rare to see a manatee without propeller scars, but this young female, void of any propeller scars, was released.

Not an easy feat considering female manatees tend to be larger than males and this female probably weighed 1,000 pounds.

The age of the manatee was unknown as it can only be determined by the annual growth rings in its ear bones. Necropsies (non-human autopsies) can determine age. It can also be approximated by birth date if known and by size. Manatees can live to be 60-plus years old and are classified as calves, subadults,and adults. I would guess this was a subadult.

Release locations are determined based on where the manatee was initially rescued.

This young female was rescued at Cabbage Key during the 2018 horrible bout of red tide. Red tide acts as a neurotoxin in manatees, giving them seizures that can result in drowning. A manatee suffering from the effects of red tide may experience a lack of coordination and experience involuntary muscle twitches and seizures.

Releasing this manatee near her rescue location provides the best opportunity for her to thrive as she is already familiar with the location of grass flats for feeding, fresh water for drinking and warm water sites during the winter. There have been at least three to seven manatees hanging out at Cabbage Key this summer, which gives her a community to connect with.

High risk manatees (she was not) are often tagged to allow monitoring of their progress in the wild. This is not a chip like dogs and cats have. It is a belt that fits around the manatee’s main body where it meets the tail. Using a buckle and nylon webbing allows for a custom fit to the girth of the manatee. The buckle also acts as the point of attachment for a 4 to 5-foot-long flexible tether. The length of the tether is designed to allow the tag to float and transmit and receive radio signals. Manatees feed on the sea bed so the length is necessary. It is also designed to avoid entanglement. It is strange to see this apparatus trailing a manatee.

It looks like it is entangled!

Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating in our local waters. As a professional Charter Captain, she specializes in Dolphin and Nature tours. Visit CaptainCathy.com or call /text 239-994-2572. Welcome aboard!

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