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Desoto has been located over the past month on the grass flats south of Apollo Beach or resting in the canal system where we captured him on 10/14. He has been observed alone or with other animals over the past month but most of the visuals have occurred during time periods when Desoto has been over grass beds feeding. We have focused our efforts to try and get locations at different times of the day to assure we are capturing his feeding intervals and overall activity. It appears his pattern has been to feed during the early morning hours and then move into the canals to rest. During a visual conducted on 10/26, Desoto was feeding and it was noted it was vigorous feeding for over several hours...something never noted before. Today it appeared that Desoto had been in TECO power plant but was traveling out of the canal when we got closer to the area.

Desoto was initially observed on 10/14 possibly drinking with another animal at the end of a canal south of Apollo Beach , Tampa Bay . He eventually began to bottom rest and the other animal that was accompanying him left the area before the capture boat arrived. Desoto was captured on the first set and was pulled onto shore without much resistance for his eight month health assessment (a late six month health assessment).

Blood, morphometrics, fecal, skin, ultrasound and weight were obtained. Dr. Murphy from Lowry Park Zoo gave Desoto an overall condition of good, with a body score of 3-. He had gained 75 lbs and 9 cm in length since his release on 2/26/04 . He was observed to have a thin peduncle, no ribs showing or peanut shaped head with a very round belly. Blood values obtained in the field were better than last capture but final blood values are still pending.

Ultrasound readings showed decreases across the board. Peduncle and anal girths also decreased but umbilicus showed a slight increase. We will be increasing his behavior observations prior to winter and will monitor him very closely for any abnormal behavior changes. Desoto has been observed feeding during his weekly observations over this past month. Our concerns are with his decrease back fat and girth measurements with the approaching winter season. It was also noted that his umbilicus back fat was still above normal and might be indicating an increase in overall condition, especially with such a round belly. So if any abnormal behavior changes are noted, a capture to assess his condition will be initiated as soon as possible.

9/16/04:

Desoto continued to travel between Alafia River and Simmons Park. Desoto has been observed with other animals on a routine basis just south of the mouth of the Alafia River. He has also been seen resting inside the boat basin of Simmons Park. On 8/30, Desoto was observed feeding just south of the Alafia River but he was quit skittish when the tracking boat would try to get closer to his location. For ten days, Desoto's tag tried to update without success and we were not able to locate him by VHF or sonic tracking. A plane was scheduled to assist in locating him but before we could all get organized with schedules, his tag started updating again. It ended up his tag had sunk due to an overgrowth of barnacles that were blocking transmission sites on the top of the tag. The large amounts of rain dropped by hurricane Frances caused the salinity to drop from 22ppt to 8ppt in areas we normally find Desoto. Thus, the drop in salinity helped to kill off some barnacles on the tag and it started to float higher. Desoto received a new tag on 9/13 and he made me work for it. He avoids humans wonderfully...no sneaking up on him. He became curious of me during one tag exchange attempt primarily because other animals were using me as a human bobbing toy. Watching the sport, Desoto only lasted a couple of minutes, and then he began to follow other manatees in the area that were leaving. It should be noted that during the five hours of visual time we had with Desoto, he was feeding with three manatees very close to Apollo Beach shoreline and then traveled into the cove just south of TECO power plant and met up with several other manatees (which also included Salvador) that were cavorting. He followed the cavorting group of manatees around, avoided the swimmer at all cost and then he eventually took a rest in the shallows.

Desoto has been traveling back and forth between the mouth of the Alafia River and Simmons Park. He has been observed feeding on Halodule seagrass near the Alafia and Gator grass along the banks of Simmons Park during high tides. He has also learned that the north bank of Simmons Park's boat basin is an oldie but goodie manatee resting spot. Desoto and Salvador are periodically seen together south of the Alafia. Desoto went through a period that he was very difficult to track because he would begin to travel or mill when our boat got within close proximity of him. We figured he had a negative boat encounter but from what we have been able to see of his head and midline area, he does not appear to have any new scars. We have not been able to see his peduncle or tail due to poor water clarity though. But in the past few weeks, we have been able to get observations without causing his behavior to change with our presence.

Desoto was possibly feeding WSW of the Alafia River before he was captured on 4/29 for his health assessment. Desoto received a new belt (red but the length of a green) and PTT tag. Morphometrics, blood and ultrasound readings were obtained but we were not able to get a weight due to scale difficulties. He lost 8 cm and 12 cm in girth at umbilicus and anus respectfully and only 4 cm at the peduncle girth. Back fat decreased minimally at all three measurement locations. Fecal matter was very fibrous at first then turned runny - samples were obtained for analysis. It appeared Desoto had lost weight but he did not have a peanut shape head or any visible ribs. Belly did not concave inward or show any signs of folds. Dave Murphy gave him a "fair" overall condition and a body score of 2+. Blood values are pending at this time.

Desoto explored north of TECO Power Plant primarily into McKay Bay and even west along the shoreline to Ballast Point. He moved out of the power plant on 3/6 and was observed alone bottom resting at the end of Pt. Sutton's canal on 3/7. This is a known area for manatees to rest …up close to the mangroves away from all the large ship traffic. Rumor has it from site workers, there is a freshwater source at the end of the canal. Desoto was observed bottom resting alone on 3/15 but this time just north of Pt. Sutton in Delaney Creek. On 3/17, he began his "explore" mode and was observed traveling very close to shore up Palm River and then back out of the river and into McKay Bay. According to ARGOS, Desoto made two trips back and forth between Palm River and Pt. Sutton. He was observed traveling close to shore in Hillsborough Bay along Davis Island on 3/23. During this observation, Desoto drank freshwater from the surface just outside of the barriers erected to prevent passage of boats into the Hillsborough River. Later he was also observed drinking at the entrance of a culvert under Bayshore Blvd. On 3/25, Desoto appeared to be feeding with one other animal north of the Gypsum plant, which is located just north of TECO. He was resting and socializing with one manatee at the end of Pt. Sutton canal on 3/26. The following day he was in McKay Bay socializing and cavorting with a different animal. For the next few weeks, Desoto traveled back and forth between McKay Bay and Pt. Sutton canal. He was pulling down mangrove branches in Pt. Sutton on 4/5 and watched as four manatees cavorted in the canal. On 4/7, he was back in McKay Bay but a visual of him traveling was not possible. Then back to Pt. Sutton on 4/9 with six animals and this time he was observed feeding on mangrove leaves for over an hour and he participated in the cavorting activities. Several days later, north yet again with one animal bottom resting in Palm River.