BULLETIN:

SCIENTISTS NEED YOUR HELP!!

HELP  US LOCATE SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAM MANATEES WHO ARE "MISSING IN ACTION":

If you see these animals, please call FWC Law Enforcement immediately toll free at: 1-888-404-FWCC to report the  location of the animal.  FWC will contact program biologist as soon as they receive a call. 

Winter 2004 Missing Animals:

Several of our tagged animals released in Winter 2004 have already lost their tags.  Program biologists would like to keep animals tagged for a minimum of one year to insure they adapt well to the wild.  Therefore, they would like to retag these missing animals as soon as possible. Please call us at the number above if you see any of these animals.

Palma Sola:  

8/17/04:  Palma Sola's tag was detached during Hurricane Charley. Scientists believe that the belt around his peduncle (narrow part of his tail) is still attached. They are asking anyone who sees an animal with a belt around its to tail to please contact the FWCC number above immediately.  Palma was in the vicinity of the hurricane when it made landfall and scientists very much want to find him to make sure he is okay.  

New Bay: 

6/11/04: New Bay was seen on June 1^st in Hernando County near Pine Island. With this new location information, researchers are asking people to be on the lookout for New Bay and to call immediately with a sighting.  She can be identified by the markings "W 8" that appear on her shoulders and peduncle (area over her tail). 

Buttons:

Buttons' tag came off on March 29th, 2004.  He has been sighted in Ocean Reef in Key Largo recently.  Scientists hope to locate him for retagging as soon as possible.  He can be identified by the markings "Y2" on his shoulder and peduncle (area over his tail). Buttons has very little wild experience and needs to be tracked. 

Myriah:

Myriah's tag came off near Everglades City in late October 2002.  She was sighted once in the spring of 2003 in the Everglades City area.  Biologists would very much like to get updated pictures of Myriah.