It’s that time of the year for Manatees

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It’s That Time Of The Year For Manatees

By Reinier Munguía

As temperatures drop in Florida, our beloved manatees embark on their migration towards warmer water sources. Traditionally, these sources comprised Florida springs, maintaining a consistent temperature range of 70 to 88 degrees. However, in the present era, manatees seek any available sources that offer them the desired warmth and comfort. This includes power plants and their associated warm water outfalls. Currently two-thirds of all manatees depend on these artificial warm water sources, as most of the springs have been blocked by dams, have reduced waterflows or are extensively used for recreation. This leaves the manatees with limited alternatives, and the future of these water sources may also be jeopardized with the ongoing phase-out of power plants and their replacement with solar projects. This underscores the critical need for discussion, as the well-being of manatees relies heavily on these warm water sources. Without access to these wintering sites, manatees face the potential threat of cold stress, posing a significant risk to their survival.


Over the course of two years, I had the privilege of working on a project centered around the Ocklawaha and Silver rivers, bringing me in close proximity to manatees and the challenges they confront. During an exploration of the Silver River, I encountered Millie, a renowned female manatee with a rich history. Millie was initially spotted at a power plant in Brevard County in 1980, and since then, researchers have meticulously tracked her movements along the east coast of Florida, ranging from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to the Upper St. Johns River. Notably, Millie has garnered recognition for nurturing at least nine calves, with the first born in 1985 and the most recent in 2004. In the winter of 2014-2015, she was observed nursing an orphan at Blue Spring.

On that particular day, Millie likely traversed the Buckman lock at the Rodman Dam to access the Silver River, where she could find abundant warm water and indulge in one of her favorite foods, eelgrass. However, navigating through the lock system poses potential challenges and dangers, as there is a risk of being trapped inside the lock for an extended period.

Recently, during a visit to the South Bay Boat Ramp in Lake Okeechobee, I was surprised to encounter a manatee feeding on water lettuce. This raises questions about whether the manatee would successfully make its way out of the lake in time to locate a warm water refuge. Such scenarios prompt reflection on the impact of human activities on other species as we strive to enhance our own lifestyles.

Over the past few years, various initiatives have been undertaken to enhance access to warm water. These include the dredging of the Fanning Springs run in the Suwanee River and the replanting of seagrasses in the Weeki Wachee Springs, aiming to offer a vital food source for manatees during the winter. If you’re interested in supporting manatees, here are a few things you can do:

 

Minimize fertilizer usage: Runoffs from fertilizers are associated with algae blooms that contribute to red tide and large-scale mortality of marine life, such as fish, sea turtles, dolphins, and manatees.

Exercise caution and reduce speed: When operating a boat, adhere to designated no-wake zones and lower your speed when manatees are present.

Protect sea grass beds: Avoid shallow waters to prevent harm to sea grass beds from boat propellers.

Give them space: When snorkeling or diving near manatees, always maintain a safe distance, allowing them ample room to move, and refrain from approaching or touching them.

You might be wondering about the connection between the residents of Polk County and manatees. Well, the explanation is both straightforward and intricate. Although situated far from the ocean and the rivers frequented by manatees, Polk County holds the origin of five crucial rivers that eventually flow into manatee habitats.

For instance, the Peace River serves as a vital water source for the Charlotte Harbor Estuary, where numerous manatees rely on seagrass for sustenance. Unfortunately, these seagrasses are negatively affected by an excess of nutrients in the water, stemming from practices such as over-fertilizing lawns, septic tank leaks, and various pollutants entering the water. What occurs upstream has repercussions for all the organisms downstream.

Take the Hillsborough River as another example, originating in Polk and concluding in Tampa Bay, another highly significant Manatee Area. It’s essential to recognize that our actions, even though we reside far from the ocean, have a substantial impact on it.

 

Want to see some manatees? Here are some places you may want to visit.

Manatee Vieweing Center
6990 Dickman Rd, Apollo Beach, FL 33572

Three Sisters Springs
601 Three Sisters Springs Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429

Blue Spring State Park
2100 W. French Ave. Orange City FL 32763

Panthers stressing the need for wildlife corridors and ecopassages

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Panthers stressing the need for wildlife corridors and ecopassages

The latest reports of four Florida Panthers being lost in a single week serve to highlight the pressing concern that our ongoing development and population trends are pushing this iconic species toward extinction. So far this year, 12 panthers has lost their life to vehicle collisions. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission currently estimates the panther population to range between 120 and 230 individuals, with a significant portion residing south of the Caloosahatchee River.

On November 6, a juvenile male Panther was struck by a vehicle in Hendry County, and the following day, a young female suffered the same fate in Glades County. Later that week, on Sunday, tragedy struck again with two separate incidents of panther fatalities due to vehicle collisions. The first incident involved a 3-year-old male in Hendry County on CR 833, while the second incident, just a few hours later, claimed the life of a 4-year-old male in Collier County. This has been one of the deadliest weeks for the species since 2021 when three panthers were killed on the same day, again by vehicle collisions.

Florida has experienced a 1.9% increase in its human population between July 2021 and July 2022, surpassing 22 million residents. This surge has led to the expansion of land and roads to accommodate the growing population, posing a threat not only to panthers but also to numerous other species. During a recent visit to the Everglades and the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, I had the opportunity to travel along the renowned Tamiami Trail. In a stretch of less than 30 miles, I encountered three deceased alligators and over 20 birds, including a Barred Owl and various wading birds, along with a few raccoons—all victims of vehicle collisions.

Florida not only attracts retirees but also individuals seeking to experience its rich wildlife. However, the question arises: are we adequately safeguarding this biodiversity as we encroach upon their habitats? A new initiative is on the horizon aiming to establish one of the most extensive conservation areas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has introduced the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area Initiative as a response to climate change impacts and the rising population in Florida. This undertaking seeks to address the displacement of wildlife from coastal regions due to increased human activity, offering crucial corridors along four watersheds. Such connectivity is essential for species like Florida Panthers, black bears, and deer, among others.

However, designating extensive wildlife areas with major roads running through it may not fully address the issue of vehicle collisions. Additional initiatives are required to ensure the safe passage of wildlife over or under existing roads. California is leading the way with the construction of the world’s largest wildlife bridge over Highway 101, a stretch traversed by nearly 300,000 vehicles daily. Interestingly, the construction of this bridge was prompted by the safe crossing of a Mountain Lion (P22) across the twelve-lane highway, while twenty other mountain lions were not as fortunate. I recently came across news about a similar bridge project slated for implementation in Polk County, Florida, spanning the I-4 corridor between Lakeland and Orlando. If realized, this would be the state’s first “wildlife-only” overpass. I sincerely hope this project materializes, given the significant threat posed to wildlife by the high volume of vehicles on that highway

Florida has a well-established reputation for grappling with road-related wildlife challenges, evident from turtles crossing roads in Tallahassee, leading to the development of the Lake Jackson Ecopassage, to the Paynes Prairie ecopassage established in response to Archie Carr’s discovery of over 765 snakes killed by vehicles on US 441.While is not all good news for Florida Panthers today, there’s hope for a better future.

P.S.> Just as this article was being finalized, another panther got struck on US 27 in Glades County, making it the 5th panther killed in November, raising the total for this year to 13 individuals.

Crooked Lake Prairie Preserve

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Crooked Lake Prairie

Nestled on the eastern shores of Crooked Lake in Babson Park, the Crooked Lake Prairie Preserve spans 525 acres and features four diverse natural environments: scrub, wet prairie, scrubby flatwoods, and depression marsh. Explore the diverse ecosystems by following two sets of trails that traverse these natural communities, providing opportunities to observe numerous native plants and animals. The trail facing north leads to a viewing area with a scenic vantage point overlooking Crooked Lake. Meanwhile, the other trail winds through scrub to the south and a prairie wetland on the west side of the property.

Throughout the summer, the wet receive enough rain to create a perfect breeding ground for various amphibian species such as oak toads, leopard frogs, and cricket frogs. This environment also serves as an attractive habitat for sandhill cranes and egrets, which forage for small fish in the shallows. Additionally, the wet prairie is adorned with wildflowers like the largeflower rose gentian and pine lily. Along the lake shores, one may encounter pickerel weed, American white waterlily, and buttonbush. Wet areas may host carnivorous plants such as the pink sundew. In the scrub community, Florida scrub oaks and saw palmettos dominate the landscape, accompanied by scattered prickly pear. Three species of pines are found on this preserve: the longleaf, slash and sand pine.

The preserve boasts a diverse array of wildlife, with a particular emphasis on birds, with almost 160 species documented. Among the commonly observed bird species in the scrubby flatwoods are bald eagles, northern bobwhite, sandhill cranes, eastern towhee, Carolina wren, pileated woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, and red-bellied woodpeckers. While mammals are rarely spotted during the day, occasional sightings of white-tailed deer or cottontail rabbits occur. However, the nighttime unveils a different narrative, evidenced by numerous tracks on the sandy trails. Nocturnal visitors like opossums, raccoons, bobcats, and coyotes frequent the trails at night in search of food.

Crooked Lake Prairie is also home to a variety of reptile species, including different types of snakes like the black racer, eastern diamondback, eastern coachwhip, coral snake, and garter snake. One may come across other reptiles such as the six-lined racerunner, Florida box turtle,

For an optimal experience hiking the complete trail system, it is recommended to start either early in the morning or during the late afternoon. Ensure you have an ample supply of water and wear closed shoes, as some areas are composed of loose sand – remnants of an era when much of Florida was submerged underwater, forming a chain of islands. It is crucial to stay on the designated trails, as the soil in the scrub is predominantly cryptobiotic, preserving the delicate ecosystem.

Plants

Birds