Meet A Manatee: Vector
He's a traveling man(atee)
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Vector has been known to travel several hundred miles along Florida's west coast.
(Photo courtesy of FWC)
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Have you ever wondered how far a manatee will travel? Manatee researchers do. And that’s how they know that Vector is itching to see the world – or at least explore the waters off Florida’s west coast.
Vector is a traveling man(atee). Several years ago, he was “tagged” and tracked by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). During that time, he journeyed as far north as the Suwanee River near Cedar Key, Florida, and as far south as the Peace River near Punta Gorda, Florida. That’s a span of several hundred miles!
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| Top left, a researcher's sketch of Vector's scar patterns. The large white scar on his back (top right) and the jagged edge of his tail (bottom left) are distinctive marks that researchers use to identify him. (Courtesy of FWC) |
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Trekking that far of a distance would be impressive for anyone, but it’s even more remarkable for a manatee. A slow-moving species, manatees can swim up to 32 kilometers (20 miles) per hour in short bursts, and they usually only swim five to eight kilometers (three to five miles) per hour. If you use your math skills, you’ll see that Vector did not accomplish his Florida west coastal journey overnight.
The tag that Vector wore is not like a tag you might put on a dog or cat but a way that researchers monitor manatees. It’s a satellite tracking device that consists of a transmitter in a waterproof container attached by a tether to a belt placed around the manatee’s tail. Using a computer, researchers use the tracking device to get information on manatee movements and additional data such as water temperature.
Another way that researchers track manatees is through photo identification. They photograph manatees when they are gathered at warm water refuges in the winter and at various areas they frequent in the summer. Vector is identified primarily by the large white scar he has near the middle of his back and also by some smaller scars he has on back and tail.
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When Vector was being tracked by FWC, he wore a tracking belt. If you look closely, you can see it around the base of his tail and also the beginning of the circular "flat spot" on the water's surface that is created when a manatee dives or swims. (Photo courtesy of FWC)
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During the winter, Vector is known for hanging in Tampa Bay. His favorite area seems to be the warm water discharge canal near Tampa Electric Company’s (TECO) Big Bend Power Plant, although he was also sighted three years ago at Progress Energy’s Bartow Power Plant in Pinellas County and at a canal on the east side of Old Tampa Bay. He seems to be a regular visitor at TECO in January and February.
Manatee researchers have jokingly called Vector a “mamma’s boy” because he has been known for showing up early at TECO in the winter at the same time that the mother and calf pairs start to appear. We think it’s pretty smart strategy to “hang” with the ladies before the competition shows up. And you know how women love men who are good with kids!
Tagging gear was removed from Vector in January of 1997, so we don’t know as much about his travels in recent years and only get updates when he shows up at warm water gathering areas. True to form, he made a couple of pit stops at the TECO Big Bend Power Plant this season, showing up mid December with the moms and calves and a couple of January visits, too.
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| During the winter, Vector is known for hanging around Tampa Bay. His favorite area seems to be the warm water discharge canal near Tampa Electric Company’s (TECO) Big Bend Power Plant. (Photo courtesy FWC) |
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