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Memories of Manatee in Charlotte
Harbor
by Monica Dorken,
CHEC Educator
September, 2004
My husband Richard told me that
there was a manatee rescue going on by the boat ramp
at
 Burnt Store Marina, so I went to see what was
happening. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a
salvage operation. Margie Barlis from Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Manatee
Salvage and Rescue team and her intern had
just finished loading three carcasses into the new
tub-like container atop a trailer, for transport to
the Marine Research Institute in St. Petersburg.
The manatees appeared to be slumbering in the
gleaming white trough. One large female was
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lactating and still dripping fresh milk. She shared
the bed with a baby and another adult. There were no
tell-tale scars. Perhaps the red tide had caused
their demise.
Each and every dead manatee is
necropsied to determine cause of death. By following
strict scientific procedures, the marine research
group may discover information that could prove
valuable to preventing rising mortality rates among
the species. Margie, along with Mindy Foley and Lucy
Keith, comprised the rescue team (based in Murdock)
for our southwest Florida waters.
These three marine biologists
were always ready to respond to all local manatee
emergencies reported on the 1-888-404-3922 hotline.
They also provided outreach manatee education.
Numerous times over the past few years, these women
have carted an entire manatee skeleton (and they
have very heavy bones) to CHEC’s summer nature camp
or teacher workshops here at the Alligator Creek
site on Burnt Store Road.
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Whenever they schedule a
program they always warn that if a manatee emergency
occurs at the same time, they will have to respond
and will not be able to present. These ladies
definitely have their priorities straight. Remember,
all of the money to support their efforts comes from
the manatee license plates that Florida folks choose
to purchase in order to help the endangered
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manatees. A week and a half after
witnessing the salvage work at the ramp, we spotted
several healthy manatees munching a raft of turtle
grass that had floated into the basin. Evidence of
effects of the widespread red tide remained. The
same westerly breeze that blew in the raft of grass
had kept the toxic, organism-filled waters along our
shoreline. A spiny boxfish and a bloated flounder
floated among the vegetative debris.
Six munching manatee seemed
unaffected by the presence of stinky fish bodies and
were seriously taking advantage of the opportunity
to dine without the effort of diving. Free salad bar
floated where easy breathing and fast food
conveniently coexisted. Yet, the gentle marine
mammals had our attention as well as concern.
Because red tide toxins
accumulate in these animals over time, a small
ingested amount could be enough to put them into
distress. When that occurs, the manatee experiences
brain seizures and eventual neurological paralysis.
This bubbly group seemed well and even a bit frisky
as they rolled around each other between bites. One
very large bull had multiple prop scars across his
long back. But he too was agile and seemed strong.
Eventually each Trichechus
manatus latirostris swam away one by one, just
as they had arrived. It was a pleasant encounter
that re-inspired our efforts for our manatee
education project, funded by the Charlotte Harbor
National Estuary Program. Let’s hope they return
someday to happily munch a healthy salad bar
provided by the bounty of Charlotte Harbor. 
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Please click here for additional information
or if you would like to contact the
author of this article, Monica Dorken. Thank you!
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"If you are really living... you are enjoying the Punta Gorda
Life"
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