Today, December 15th, after one and a half months of rehabilitation and lots of t.l.c. at Miami Seaquarium, Ilya the wayward manatee was released back into the familiar waters of his home state. Ilya’s October rescue from a warm-water outflow at the ConocoPhillips Bayway Refinery in Linden, New Jersey was expertly coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ilya was first transported to a heated indoor pool at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey where his health was assessed by a veterinarian to determine if he was fit for transport back to Florida. He was found to be in surprisingly good health, suffering from only a mild case of cold stress syndrome, and was flown back to the Sunshine State on October 29th, aboard a Coast Guard C-130 cargo aircraft. Once Ilya was back in Florida, he was transported to Miami Seaquarium for rehabilitation.

Patrick Rose, Save the Manatee Club’s Executive Director said, “There are many individuals, groups, and agencies responsible for Ilya’s amazing success story. These include all the caring individuals who pitched in from groups such as the New Jersey Marine Mammal Stranding Center; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Point Pleasant Dive and Rescue Team; the Refinery; the Coast Guard; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Program; and Miami Seaquarium.”

“We’re all rooting for Ilya,” said Robert Rose, Curator at Miami Seaquarium. “We really hope he decides to stick around home and not get the traveling urge again.”

Each year, many manatees are injured or killed by human activities, including boat strikes. Through December 4th, 91 manatees had been killed by watercraft in Florida during 2009 – a total that is approaching the record number of 95 annual watercraft mortalities set in 2002. Ilya himself, early in his life, suffered from boat strikes that mutilated his tail and left him with a scar on his head. Manatee critical care facilities, including Miami Seaquarium, are vital to the recovery of the entire endangered manatee population, because each individual is important to the long-term survival of the species. Safeguarding the welfare of individual manatees includes the rescue and rehabilitation of wayward manatees who find themselves too far from home when the waters start to cool. Manatees need water above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to survive. Although most of the manatees who wander north make it back safely on their own, others would die from cold stress without rescue efforts.

“The rescue and release of Ilya illustrates the commitment and dedication of so many agencies and individuals to the survival of manatees,” said Dr. James Powell, Executive Director of Sea2Shore Alliance. “There is a tremendous effort called the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), whose job is to monitor rescued manatees once they are returned to the wild.”

As a supporting member of the MRP, Save the Manatee Club added Ilya to its Adopt-A-Manatee ® program. All proceeds from adoptions of Ilya will go toward the rescue and rehabilitation of endangered manatees. To adopt Ilya go online at www.savethemanatee.org/adoptees, or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646).

Governor Crist is currently preparing his proposed budget for fiscal year 2010-2011. Please ask him to include funding for the Florida Forever land buying program in his budget. The Florida Forever program was created in 2001, and between 2001 and 2009, the program acquired more than 638,600 acres of land worth $2.62 billion. The program has safeguarded habitat for 200 of Florida's protected species.

In 2008, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that was signed into law by the governor, approving $300 million annually for the next 10 years to fund Florida Forever. Unfortunately, despite this legislative authorization, no money was allocated to Florida Forever during the 2009 legislative session for fiscal year 2009-2010. With your help, we're hoping to get Florida Forever back in the governor's budget for 2010-2011.

Get more information on this issue and send a quick online letter now!
http://org2.democracyinact..ion.org/o/5215/t/2606/camp..aign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2315

What You Can Do:

1. Send a quick email to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, telling him that you're committed to Florida Forever and asking him to show his commitment by putting Florida Forever funding in his budget for fiscal year 2010-2011.

Send a quick email to Governor Crist now!
http://org2.democracyinact..ion.org/o/5215/t/2606/camp..aign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2315

If you would like to send an individual message, you can get contact information for Governor Crist.

2. Please donate now so we can continue our work to protect manatees and their habitat.

Thank you for taking the time to help safeguard habitat for endangered manatees and other protected species in Florida.

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Photo by Laura Osteen*

A sirenian story had a happy ending this fall, when a manatee was rescued in late October from cold waters near New Jersey and brought safely back to Florida. The manatee was identified by researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey Sirenia Project as a male manatee named “Ilya.” Although Ilya had been known to biologists for about 15 years, he had not previously been documented outside of Florida.

Reports of Ilya’s expedition started surfacing last summer. He was first spotted in the Chesapeake Bay near the end of July. By mid-September, Ilya had traveled to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and was seen several times near Dennis and Orleans. A week later, he was seen in Connecticut.

In early October, there was no sign of Ilya, and everyone hoped that he had decided to finally head south for the winter. On Thursday, October 15th, however, Ilya startled a refinery worker by appearing at a warm water outflow at the ConocoPhillips Bayway Refinery near Linden, New Jersey. At that time of the year, water temperatures in the Arthur Kill, where Ilya was located, were estimated to be between 60 and 64 degrees. Typically, manatees cannot tolerate water temperatures below 68 degrees for long periods of time. The warm water discharge from the oil refinery heated the surrounding waters to 75 degrees, which is what likely attracted Ilya.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service planned a rescue for that weekend but were thwarted by a nor’easter, which brought heavy wind and rains and made conditions too dangerous. Volunteers from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a rescue group in nearby Brigantine, tried to keep Ilya near the outflow by feeding him, but he disappeared for about a week before he was sighted again by refinery workers on October 26th.

The rescue team quickly reassembled and was finally able to capture Ilya on October 27th after four attempts over seven long hours. Ilya was transported to an indoor heated pool at the stranding center and given care by veterinarians. Surprisingly, he was in pretty good health. After being cleared for travel, he came back to Florida in style on a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 cargo aircraft and is currently recovering from his adventures at the Miami Seaquarium. Dr. Maya Rodriguez, the Seaquarium veterinarian who participated in the rescue and is currently caring for Ilya, says he is doing well and socializing with a young female named Glade. Ilya will likely be released in the month of December.

Special thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Program for coordinating the rescue, and to the more than 40 people who made Ilya’s rescue a success: staff and volunteers from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Miami Seaquarium, and Point Pleasant Dive and Rescue Team as well as government officials, refinery workers, and veterinarians. ConocoPhillips employees operated boats and a crane for the rescue effort and the refinery provided a heated tent with food and hot coffee for the rescue workers.

Update! Ilya Available for Adoption
If you are interested in adopting Ilya, Save the Manatee Club has added him to the Adopt-A-Manatee program. Proceeds from adoptions of Ilya will go toward rescue and rehabilitation of endangered manatees.

*Photo courtesy of Miami Seaquarium. Ilya is the manatee in the top left*

A sirenian story had a happy ending this fall, when a manatee was rescued in late October from cold waters near New Jersey and brought safely back to Florida. The manatee was identified by researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey Sirenia Project as a male manatee named “Ilya.” Although Ilya had been known to biologists for about 15 years, he had not previously been documented outside of Florida.

Reports of Ilya’s expedition started surfacing last summer. He was first spotted in the Chesapeake Bay near the end of July. By mid-September, Ilya had traveled to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and was seen several times near Dennis and Orleans. A week later, he was seen in Connecticut.

In early October, there was no sign of Ilya, and everyone hoped that he had decided to finally head south for the winter. On Thursday, October 15th, however, Ilya startled a refinery worker by appearing at a warm water outflow at the ConocoPhillips Bayway Refinery near Linden, New Jersey. At that time of the year, water temperatures in the Arthur Kill, where Ilya was located, were estimated to be between 60 and 64 degrees. Typically, manatees cannot tolerate water temperatures below 68 degrees for long periods of time. The warm water discharge from the oil refinery heated the surrounding waters to 75 degrees, which is what likely attracted Ilya.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service planned a rescue for that weekend but were thwarted by a nor’easter, which brought heavy wind and rains and made conditions too dangerous. Volunteers from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a rescue group in nearby Brigantine, tried to keep Ilya near the outflow by feeding him, but he disappeared for about a week before he was sighted again by refinery workers on October 26th.

The rescue team quickly reassembled and was finally able to capture Ilya on October 27th after four attempts over seven long hours. Ilya was transported to an indoor heated pool at the stranding center and given care by veterinarians. Surprisingly, he was in pretty good health. After being cleared for travel, he came back to Florida in style on a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 cargo aircraft and is currently recovering from his adventures at the Miami Seaquarium. Dr. Maya Rodriguez, the Seaquarium veterinarian who participated in the rescue and is currently caring for Ilya, says he is doing well and socializing with a young female named Glade. Ilya will likely be released in the month of December.

Special thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Manatee Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release Program for coordinating the rescue, and to the more than 40 people who made Ilya’s rescue a success: staff and volunteers from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Miami Seaquarium, and Point Pleasant Dive and Rescue Team as well as government officials, refinery workers, and veterinarians. ConocoPhillips employees operated boats and a crane for the rescue effort and the refinery provided a heated tent with food and hot coffee for the rescue workers.

Update! Ilya Available for Adoption
If you are interested in adopting Ilya, Save the Manatee Club has added him to the Adopt-A-Manatee program. Proceeds from adoptions of Ilya will go toward rescue and rehabilitation of endangered manatees.

*Photo courtesy of Miami Seaquarium. Ilya is the manatee in the top left*

Governor Charlie Crist recently issued a proclamation recognizing November 2009 as Manatee Awareness Month, a tradition supported by Florida’s governors for many years. Manatees are listed as endangered at the state, federal, and international levels. The proclamation states, “Manatees face the risk of extinction due to human related threats.”

Patrick Rose, Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club, credits Governor Crist with helping to bring much needed attention and support to protect Florida’s official marine mammal at a time when it is critically needed.

Rose explains that despite more recent gains in manatee protection measures, this year is proving to be one of the worst for manatees. “It is likely that by year’s end, the total number of manatee deaths from all causes – and the number of manatees killed by boats – will be higher than in any previous year. Already this year, more than 374 manatees have died from all causes, and historically, collisions with watercraft represent nearly 34% of all manatee deaths where a cause of death could be determined. Clearly, first and foremost, we must expand our efforts to raise public awareness about the presence of manatees in our waters and to reach more people about how to help prevent their deaths, including the millions who vacation here from outside Florida and around the world.”

Another serious threat to the manatee population is the potential loss of warm-water winter habitat, such as natural springs and the outfalls of power plants, where manatees gather to keep warm during winter cold spells. Manatees cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to water temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Governor Crist’s commitment to proclaim November as Manatee Awareness Month puts the endangered manatee in the spotlight, and highlights the threats to their long-term survival and how we can all help,” added Rose. “There is much we can do together to safeguard Florida’s docile and defenseless manatee, like obeying posted speed zones and properly disposing of our trash when boating. Thankfully, manatees are cherished by so many, and for that we remain hopeful and optimistic.”

The Club provides a variety of ways for the public to help with manatee protection. Florida shoreline property owners can request a free aluminum dock sign from Save the Manatee Club which says, “Please Watch for Manatees: Operate with Care.” E-mail education@savethemanatee.org, or call toll free at 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) and include contact information plus the address where the sign will be posted.

In the final weeks of the 2009 Legislative Session, a shadowy group of oilmen tried to rush a sweetheart deal through the Florida Legislature, reversing Florida's decades-old ban on oil and gas drilling in nearshore waters. While the Senate refused to take up the bill, the oilmen are still at it — spending millions on campaign contributions, public relations and lobbying — all in the hopes of siting drilling rigs in state waters.

Nearshore drilling is emerging as the defining issue of the coming legislative session. It is an issue that affects Florida's environment and its unique species, including manatees. Save the Manatee Club has joined a coalition of groups working to protect Florida's beaches, and we need your help!

What You Can Do:

1. Please write your state senator and representative and tell them to keep the rigs out of Florida. Tell them you support protection of manatees and our aquatic ecosystems and believe that there are better solutions to our energy needs.

Send a quick online letter now by going to:! http://www.protectfloridas..beaches.org/write.html

If you would like to send an individual message, you can get contact information for your Florida legislators by going to www.congress.org. Just enter your zip code where it says "Get Involved."

2. After you send your letter, get your city and county involved by asking them to pass a resolution opposing offshore drilling. Get more info at >> http://protectfloridasbeac..hes.org/resolutions.html

Thank you for taking the time to help protect Florida's environment and its unique species!

Beginning in October and running through April 2010, Save the Manatee Club (SMC) is promoting kayak tours to see manatees. The ecotours, which are offered by Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company in Crystal River, provide an alternative way to view manatees without disrupting their natural behavior. Participation in the ecotours will help protect manatees as well. Ten percent of each tour booked by a Save the Manatee Club member will go toward the Club’s manatee conservation efforts

This year marks the first time Save the Manatee Club has promoted more tours over a longer time period. “The kayak tours have proven to be very popular and usually fill up fast,” says Patrick M. Rose, Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club. “In past years, we have only offered 12 tours, but our expanded partnership with Aardvark’s will give members more options to fit into their busy schedule.”

Crystal River/Kings Bay is the winter home to hundreds of manatees. When the weather cools down, manatees gather at natural springs such as those found in the Crystal River area. Each kayak trip will start with a brief education session on manatees as well as basic kayaking tips. Then it’s time to begin a trip paddling through the waters of Crystal River. Along the way, you’ll get a chance to view manatees in the wild and learn about the local flora and fauna.

The manatee kayak tours are led by Matt and Sue Clemons, owners of Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company. Matt is a wildlife biologist with several years of experience conducting manatee research, and Sue is a former park ranger. Matt is also a member of Save the Manatee Club’s Board of Directors. “Our manatee tours are conducted with a hands-off approach,” says Matt. “We believe that wild animals need to stay wild and the true ecotourist looks, but does not touch.”

The cost of each tour is $40 per person and includes an experienced guide, kayak, paddle, and life jacket. Each tour typically runs about three hours long. Kayaking experience is not required and beginners are welcome.

Participants should book their tour directly through Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company. Those tour participants who identify themselves as Save the Manatee Club members will receive a free “I Love Manatees” sticker, a 10 percent discount coupon for SMC’s manatee gift catalog or for SMC T-shirts sold in Aardvark’s store, and a 20% off discount coupon to see manatees just down the road at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa, Florida.

Tour participants are responsible for all travel, hotel, meals, and other expenses. Once you sign up, Matt and Sue will provide a list of area hotels. Reservations are required, so book your tour today and be sure to say you are a Save the Manatee Club member!

Please contact:

Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company
707 N Citrus Avenue, Suite A
Crystal River, Fl 34428
Web: www.floridakayakcompany.com

In recent years, endangered manatees have been sighted during summer and fall months in states along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from Massachussetts to Texas. In October 2008, a manatee was rescued from Sesuit Harbor in Dennis, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the manatee -- named Dennis after the town where he was rescued -- died en route to SeaWorld Orlando after suffering severe cold stress.

In the fall of 1994, a manatee named Chessie gained national attention after being sighted in the Chesapeake Bay. Save the Manatee Club helped fund Chessie’s rescue and transport back to Florida, and the Club has consistently been involved in manatee rescue and rehabilitation efforts over the years.

“It is crucial that citizens report manatee sightings outside Florida, particularly as the weather turns cooler, so that wildlife authorities can monitor these animals and intervene if necessary,” says Dr. Katie Tripp, Director of Science and Conservation for Save the Manatee Club.

While manatees can typically locate sufficiently warm water and abundant food supplies in northern waters during the summer, once waters begin to cool in the autumn, manatees must return south to Florida. As a subtropical species, manatees cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to water temperatures below 68 °F. Along the east coast of the United States, water temperatures will soon be dropping and approaching or surpassing this critical threshold.

"Generally speaking, manatees that have not returned to Florida waters by autumn are at risk from developing cold stress syndrome, which is a potentially fatal condition," says Tripp. Younger, juvenile manatees that wander north are particularly susceptible to these colder temperatures because of their smaller body size. Such manatees may also be naïve and less likely to successfully find their way back to Florida.

Non-Florida residents can report sightings to their local wildlife officials. Contact information is available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/p..r/health/networks.htm. Those local officials should then contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Jacksonville, Florida at 904-731-3336.

“Citizens should be prepared to report the number of manatees observed; the physical location of the manatees, with reference to any nearby landmarks; and a general description of the size and behavior of the manatee," says Tripp. "If possible, photos of the manatees, particularly clear photos of any scars or injuries, should be taken as these photos help biologists identify individual manatees.” Citizens can also contact Save the Manatee Club with questions about unusual sightings by calling 1-800-432-JOIN (5646) or e-mailing education@savethemanatee.org

Follow this link to print out your own Save the Manatee bookmarks!


http://www.savethemanatee.org/..coolstuff.htm