News

By Cora Berchem, Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate

The summer months are usually a bit slower for manatee sightings as manatees migrate away from warm-water sources and spend time in rivers, estuaries, and coastal areas. However, we have had quite a few sightings over the past months!

We are happy to report that our research team has noted at least ten new calves at Blue Spring this summer! During the summer months, manatee mothers sporadically stop by with their offspring to introduce them to the spring run.

One of our staff members happened to see Blue Spring manatee ‘Barbra’ in the Sanford Marina in Lake Monroe at the beginning of July.

In August, Barbra and her new calf stopped by for a visit at Blue Spring.

#TBT, you may remember a video from a few years ago where Barbra was pushing a stick through the Blue Spring refuge in the winter.

Speaking of Lake Monroe (which is about 15 miles south of Blue Spring), a significant amount of eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) has grown back on the north side of the lake. This is good news for manatees as it provides additional food sources. Historically, eelgrass was very prominent in the St. Johns River, including Lake Monroe, but unfortunately, hurricanes, high water levels, and other factors have decimated the eelgrass almost completely, so manatees primarily feed on emergent and floating vegetation.

Our research team was able to get some photos of the new eelgrass:

It is not entirely clear why the eelgrass has come back, but it could be due to lower water levels over the past year resulting in more light penetration or the uncovering of small springs along the side of the lake. 

On the other side of Lake Monroe, one of our staff members encountered multiple manatees feeding on floating vegetation (mainly water lettuce) in early September.