Scientists Report Stokes the Manatee Missing GPS!
Three Sisters Springs, Citrus County, during 2015 manatee aerial survey Photo credit (FWC)
I just learned from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission that my manatee buddy, Stokes, is missing his GPS tracker! Stokes actually wears a belt with a tether, which supports his floating GPS radio tag. It is the Sea to Shore Alliance scientists who monitor manatee travels. And this GPS radio tag is their main monitoring tool.
The FWC explains sometimes the general public removes the radio tags on the manatees, believing they are actually helping them.
Stokes the manatee was rescued, rehabbed, and then released from cold stress last December. After Stokes was released in April, he was traveling in the mouth of the St. Johns River and in the Ortega River near Jacksonville.
If you see any sick or injured manatees, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC. They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.
Here’s a cool link for you to learn more about how we’re rescued and brought into rehabilitation …
Here’s another awesome link to learn more about manatees …
~ Kobee Manatee
