Manatee Sightings: February 2022

The chilly weather in January brought many manatees to Blue Spring State Park. On January 29th, park staff counted 721 manatees, which is is a new record! See photos of adoptees sighted so far this season by Wayne Hartley, Manatee Specialist, Cora Berchem, Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate, and our partners at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Watch videos from the manatee season on our Webcam and YouTube pages.
All of the manatees featured below are in our Adopt-A-Manatee® program. (All SMC activities conducted under permit # MA791721-5.)

Cora Berchem fixes the webcam at Blue Spring State Park assisted by Annie the manatee.
On January 26th, Save the Manatee Club’s Cora Berchem was assisted on her webcam repair work by manatee adoptee Annie (left) at Blue Spring State Park.

 

Illusion the manatee
Our partners from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spotted adoptee Illusion at the Riviera Beach powerplant on January 30th during their photo-ID work! We are so grateful for the update!

 

Whiskers the manatee.
Whiskers, on December 1, 2021. He made his first visit to Blue Spring State Park on November 26, 2021.

 

Aqua the manatee.
Aqua has been a regular visitor to Blue Spring this season. Here she is in a great photo on January 5, 2022.

 

Doc the manatee.
Here’s a photo of Doc on November 24, 2021, which was also his first recorded visit of the season.

 

Rocket the manatee.
Rocket, December 6, 2021. He was the sole SMC adoptee in the run on both December 6th and 7th.

 

Philip the manatee.
Philip was one of the more early arrivals, showing up in November. Here he is on January 12, 2022.

 

Una the manatee.
Wayne and Cora report that Una might be pregnant! Here she is on January 5, 2022.

 

Moo Shoo the manatee and her calf.
Moo Shoo and her calf arrived early on November 8th and have been regular visitors at Blue Spring. This photo is from January 9, 2022.

 

Deep Dent the manatee.
Deep Dent was the last adoptee to arrive at Blue Spring on November 27, 2021.

 

Phyllis the manatee.
Phyllis was one of the earliest visitors to Blue Spring. Here she is on November 2, 2021.

 

Merlin the manatee.
His many scars identify Merlin, seen from the back on December 5, 2021.

 

Gator the manatee.
Gator is easily identified by his scars on November 23, 2021.

 

Lesley the manatee.
After several surgeries and almost three years in rehabilitation to recover from injuries and serious infection, Lesley was released at Blue Spring in January 2021. We were glad to see her back for the 2021 – 2022 season. This photo is from January 14, 2022.

 

Flash the manatee.
We are pleased Flash has been a regular visitor to Blue Spring this season. This photo is from November 24, 2021. He was also spotted at another spring in late January by fellow researchers.

 

Howie the manatee.
Howie first showed up on November 8, 2021. His visits have been consistent with the chillier weather. Here he is on January 5, 2022.

 

Margarito the manatee.
We haven’t seen Margarito often this season, but he has been in. This photo is from a visit on November 10, 2021.

 

Millie the manatee.
We were glad to see Millie, our east coast adoptee on November 26, 2021, at Blue Spring. Later, in early February 2022, she was seen at the Port Everglades power plant – quite a distance to travel in two months. FWC researchers also saw Millie resting next to Chessie, famous adoptee and fellow long-distance traveler, at Port Everglades!

 

Paddy Doyle and Floyd the manatees.
There have been lots of visits by Paddy Doyle (front) this season but not as many from Floyd (back). Here they are together on November 24, 2021.

 

Lucille the manatee.
Looks like Lucille is making a bid for Attendance Champion this season! She has been in consistently. Here’s a photo from January 5, 2022.

 

Man versus Manatee web comic
“Swim Suit” 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.”