Manatee Sightings: March 2018

Manatee resting on a branch at Blue Spring State Park.
“Bartender! I’ll have a spring water, please.” This was the caption offered by Teresa B. when we posted the above photo on our Facebook page. The manatee was taking a break by resting on a tree limb at Blue Spring State Park in March and was captured by Cora Berchem, Save the Manatee Club’s Manatee Research and Multimedia Specialist.

Cassie and Buckeye were orphaned calves rescued in Volusia County, Florida in 2015. They spent time at SeaWorld Orlando and the Jacksonville Zoo and were tagged and released at Blue Spring State Park in early March. This video by the Club’s Cora Berchem documents their release. Both manatees are outfitted with satellite tags, so they can be monitored to make sure they adapt well to their new life in the wild. (Video ©Save the Manatee Club.)

Cassie and Buckeye, tagged manatees, at Blue Spring State Park.
The day following their release, Cassie and Buckeye made their first morning “manatee roll call,” at Blue Spring, swimming right by the research canoe and checking out the spring run and their fellow manatees!

We were excited to see Brutus at Blue Spring State Park on March 8, 2018. It was his first visit to the park this winter, although we had been notified that Brutus was warm and comfy in another spring. You can adopt Brutus and other manatees at savethemanatee.org/adopt. (Video © Save the Manatee Club.)
Lucille the manatee and her calf, March 18, 2018.
On July 8th, Lucille came in to Blue Spring State Park with a very small calf. Mom and calf came back to Blue Spring for the winter season and have made several visits.
Lucille the manatee and her calf, March 12, 2018.
Lucille’s calf (in front of mom) has grown quite a bit since this summer!

Who can resist some cutie-pie calves frolicking in the Blue Spring Run? The video was recorded on November 26, 2017 at Blue Spring State Park. (Video © Save the Manatee Club.)
Dix the manatee
Wayne Hartley, Save the Manatee Club’s Manatee Specialist, snapped this beautiful photo of Dix the manatee and friends on March 14, 2018.
Howie the manatee on March 12, 2018.
Howie also made several visits to Blue Spring this winter. Here he is looking very handsome on March 12th.
Manatee Dix and her entourage recorded with our above-water webcam at Blue Spring State Park in January 2018. Watch more on the webcams at ManaTV.org.
Rocket the manatee on March 19, 2018.
Rocket surprised everyone by showing up at Blue Spring on March 13th for the first time this season. “We have known where he was, but it was great to see him home,” said Wayne Hartley, Save the Manatee Club’s Manatee Specialist.
Watch the fun as a group of juvenile manatees play at the spring boil. Recorded by Cora Berchem, SMC Manatee Research and Multimedia Specialist, at Blue Spring State Park on November 3, 2017. (Video © Save the Manatee Club.)
Nick the manatee
Some cooler temps in early March brought manatees to Blue Spring. Manatee Specialist Wayne Hartley captured a visit from Nick on March 10, 2018. You can adopt Nick and other manatees at savethemanatee.org/adopt.
Doc the manatee rests at Blue Spring State Park.
Doc rests at Blue Spring State Park on March 23, 2018. He made several visits to the park this winter.
Recorded at Blue Spring State Park in December 2017 featuring manatee moms White Eye and Paula and their calves. See the calves nursing, surfacing to breathe, and swimming next to mom. Click the following link to get more information on manatee birth and reproduction. (Video © Save the Manatee Club.)
Gator the manatee rests at Blue Spring State Park.
Easily identified by the large, white scars on his back, Gator rests at Blue Spring State Park on March 12, 2018.
Cora Berchem, Save the Manatee Club’s Manatee Research and Multimedia Specialist, put together these clips of manatees from the 2017 – 2018 winter season. Recorded at Blue Spring State Park in November and December 2017. (Video © Save the Manatee Club.)
Brutus the manatee
Brutus was spotted by Manatee Specialist Wayne Hartley on March 10th at Blue Spring State Park.
See manatee “U16/17” with her little calf, recorded at Blue Spring State Park on November 28, 2017. Watch more at ManaTV.org. (Video © Save the Manatee Club.)
Philip the manatee
Philip rests in the warm water refuge with other manatees at Blue Spring State Park on March 12, 2018.
Some beautiful footage of manatees gathered at the spring boil at Blue Spring State Park. Recorded on January 19, 2018 by SMC’s Cora Berchem. Manatee Sophie and her little calf are featured. See more at ManaTV.org. (Video ©Save the Manatee Club.)
Man Versus Manatee Comic
“Soup” from the charming web comic “Man versus Manatee” by Rachel Arnow. See more of Rachel’s manatee comics at mvsm.omnomzom.com or on her Facebook page. She puts out a new comic each “Manatee Monday.”