"Dana was very fond of the research canoe and liked to hang around when rangers were gathering manatee data,” says Wayne Hartley, a former ranger at Blue Spring State Park, a warm-water refuge where Dana was born and visited each winter. (Photo by Wayne Hartley, FDEP)

We recently received the sad news that Dana, one of the longtime adoptees in Save the Manatee Club’s Adopt-A-Manatee program, had died on July 14th after suffering injuries from a boat strike that occurred in the St. Johns River. Dana was rescued in early May near Palatka, Florida, by staff from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Jacksonville Zoo, Sea to Shore Alliance, and Palatka Police and Fire Departments. She was transported for medical treatment at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, where zoo staff discovered that she was also near-term pregnant. A week later, Dana had her calf, but unfortunately, the calf did not survive and was stillborn.

Dana was rescued in May after suffering a boat strike in the St. Johns River. She was pregnant at the time and lost the calf a week after the rescue. (Photo © Patrick Leonard, Palatka Daily News)

Dana was first identified in 1988 by Wayne Hartley, currently Manatee Specialist for Save the Manatee Club, and a park ranger at Blue Spring State Park for many years. Dana was born in December that year and came in with her mother Donna, who was wintering at the park. Dana nursed for two years, which is a little longer than what is observed in some other manatee calves. Once she was weaned, she gained a reputation for being playful and friendly. “Dana was very fond of the research canoe and liked to hang around when rangers were gathering manatee data,” says Hartley. “She would push against the canoe, bump it from underneath, and then surface to breathe near the rangers so she could exhale right in their face! She was also pretty curious about underwater photographers. “

Although researchers believe that manatees can live to be 60 years old, Dana was just 24 when she died. She had eight calves, five of whom were named, and had visited Blue Spring each winter from the time she was born. Dana’s first calf, Dianne, was born in 1993, when Dana was five years old, and the pair made so many appearances that season that Dana became the manatee attendance champion at the park. When her second calf, Whiskers, was born in 1997, Dana and Whiskers put in an impressive 39 appearances at Blue Spring. Dana’s third calf, Amy, was born in 1999, and she followed with two more calves named Brooke and Ditch. Dana is also a grandmother to six calves and a great grandmother to one manatee, a calf named Volusia, who was born to Alice, Amy’s daughter, in 2009. Dana’s great grandmother status made her part of the first sixth-generation matriarchy documented at Blue Spring. The family tree extends back to Dawn, first sighted in 1981, who was Dana’s grandmother.

Dana will be missed by Save the Manatee Club members and staff, as well as the staff and many visitors at Blue Spring State Park. Over the course of her lifetime, Dana had been adopted by nearly 5,500 members of Save the Manatee Club. Dana's adoptive "parents" have received a letter from Save the Manatee Club Executive Director Patrick Rose, and an adoption for Dana’s son, Whiskers, who is currently part of SMC’s adoption program.

”Historically, more manatees are killed by boats each year than from any other identifiable cause,” said Rose. “When she was rescued, Dana’s injuries indicated that she had experienced impact trauma from the boat's hull, propeller, or propeller guard. Many people don't realize that this type of injury, called ‘blunt force trauma,’ is often more deadly to manatees than cuts from the propellers. It's why it is so important to watch for manatees when boating and slow down when you see posted manatee speed zone signs.”

“The best way for us to honor Dana is to make life better for other manatees," he continued. "We can bring about this positive change if we speak out and let our decision makers know we support strong manatee protection measures. I encourage everyone reading this to become an activist by signing up for our E-Mail Action Alert Team. You will be sent information on current issues and learn about actions you can take to make a real difference for endangered manatees and their aquatic habitat.”

Although researchers believe that manatees can live to be 60 years old, Dana was just 24 when she died. She had eight calves and had visited Blue Spring each winter since the time she was born there. Dana was a great grandmother and part of the first sixth-generation matriarchy documented at Blue Spring. (Photo by Wayne Hartley, FDEP)

My parents adopted Dana the manatee for me shortly after my first visit to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park when I was in 6th grade. I'm 31 years old, and they have renewed her adoption every year since. Although we never met in person, Dana inspired me to want to be a marine biologist, which led to my major of marine and freshwater biology at the University of New Hampshire, and finally to my career as a high school biology teacher. I now teach my students about endangered species and the effects of humans on the natural world, and I have Dana's photo hung in my classroom and often refer to her and all the other manatees and species we should be protecting and concerned about. Dana, you were, and still are, quite the inspiration!" --Jill Carter, Save the Manatee Club member

• Please give generously to our Emergency Rescue Program to help sick and injured manatees.

• Report An Injured Manatee by calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on your cell phone or or send a text message to Tip@MyFWC.com. You can also use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio.

• Place A Public Awareness Waterway Sign on your dock or property if you live on a waterway that manatees frequent. Boaters can also get our free waterproof banner to warn other boaters if a manatee is spotted while out on the water.
  
  
• Visit Blue Spring State Park to see the area Dana visited in the winter.
  
  
• Read about other manatees in the Blue Spring Adoption Program.