Manatee Updates

Name: Myra

Released: February 2010

Data Map

Biography: Myra was rescued as an orphan from the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida on August 17, 2007. She was only 51 lbs and 138 cm long and was rehabilitated at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. Myra was released on February 16, 2010 at Three Sisters in Crystal River, Florida. She weighed 725 lbs and was 250cm long on the day of her release.

Field Notes:

7/14/10-7/27/10: Myra was observed on Thursday, 7/22/10, in the Tide Swamp Wildlife Refuge in Steinhatchee. She was alone and paced for several minutes when approached by my boat, then milled north up the creek.

6/30/10-7/13/10: Myra was observed on Monday, 7/12/10, in a creek on the southern edge of the Tide Swamp Wildlife Refuge in Steinhatchee with two other animals. They bottom-rested for an hour and then socialized. Gas was observed from Myra twice during the observation. The area seemed quiet and prone to very little boat traffic.

6/19/10-6/29/10: Myra was seen on Saturday, 6/19/10, in the islands outside Salt River milling with one to two other animals.

6/10/10 – 6/18/10: Myra was observed on Wednesday, 6/09/10, in Homosassa River near a marina with 3 other animals. She was socializing, milling, and traveling around the area. A mullet boat passed within 30 feet of the group at one point and she and the other animals paced for about 5 minutes before returning to socializing.

6/02/10 – 6/09/10: At the beginning of this week Myra has moved from just outside the entrance to the Chassahowitzka River in the gulf slightly north to The Suncoast Keys. Later in the week she entered Homosassa and traveled east.

5/25/10 – 6/01/10:This week Myra moved out to the end of Salt River and then south to the entrance of Chassahowitzka River. On Sunday, 5/30/10, she began moving north again to the entrance of Homosassa River.

5/18/10-5/24/10: Myra was observed on Tuesday, 5/18/10, bottom-resting in a canal west of Bagley Cove with a mother-calf pair and one other adult.

5/11/10-5/17/10: Myra’s tag was recovered on Monday, 5/10/10, near Warden Key. It had washed into a small cove within one of the sawgrass islands west of Kings Bay. Myra was observed on Wednesday, 5/12/10, through Friday, 5/14/10, as Sea To Shore looked for an opportunity to re-tag her. She was evasive during a tagging attempt on Wednesday, but during the rest of the time was socializing, milling, and traveling with a group of 2-4 other animals. On Saturday, 5/15/10, she moved north and was bottom-resting in a canal outside of Kings Bay with one other animal. The area had vegetation to offer and was marked as a Slow Zone. Myra woke up when Melody approached and was evasive but was re-tagged. Since then she has continued north to Bagley Cove.

5/06/10-5/10/10: Myra was milling by herself on Monday, 5/03/10, at the end of a canal near Three Sisters Springs. No pacing was observed. On Friday, 5/07/10, she was near Buzzard Island milling and socializing with at least one other animal. At one point a dive boat approached her within 20 feet, but she traveled away and the boat left also after being asked by Sea To Shore not to approach tagged animals in the water.

4/28/10-5/05/10: On Monday, 4/26/10, she was in Bagley Cove. On Tuesday, 4/27/10, she was observed in a canal northwest of Buzzard Island milling, traveling, and socializing with one other animal. They moved out of the canal to the cove west of Buzzard Island and socialized there with three more animals. However, on Saturday morning, 5/01/10, she was reported to have been pacing in Three Sisters Springs. She was observed again on Monday, 5/03/10, by herself in a canal south of Three Sisters, where she was milling.

4/20/10-4/27/10: Myra was observed on Wednesday, 4/21/10, near Buzzard Island in Kings Bay with 2 other animals. She socialized, traveled north toward the river, moved away from an approaching dive boat, and fed. One 9-minute interval of pacing was observed. Later that afternoon she was seen in the northwest corner of Kings Bay outside the channel. She was by herself and fed again, and avoided another boat.

4/13/10-4/19/10: On Monday, 4/12/10, Myra was found bottom-resting by herself in the canal outside of Three Sisters Springs. Her respirations were 7-8 minutes apart. After about half an hour she woke up and milled into Three Sisters, then began pacing and barrel-rolling. Her respiration rate then changed to 1-2 minutes apart.
On Wednesday she was observed pacing again in Three Sisters Springs. Melody got an in-water assessment of her and found that she had a somewhat flat belly. She was using both her flippers. One large group and a few individuals were in the water; she would pass near them and a few times brushed against them during her pacing but did not seem affected by the interaction, as if the pacing had her total focus.
On Thursday, 4/15/10, Melody and FWS Officer Craig Cavanna went around to the dive shops in the area and distributed MRP brochures and business cards, and everyone agreed they would not approach Myra and give her at least a 20-foot distance whenever possible. Officer Cavanna stayed with Myra at Three Sisters on Saturday, 4/17/10, and Sunday, 4/18/10, educating swimmers, overseeing interaction, and observing Myra’s behavior. Thank you so much to Officer Cavanna, Stacy Dunn, and the volunteers who are willing to spend time educating people about Myra.

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2/16/10 -2/28/10: On Tuesday, 2/16/10, Myra was released at Three Sisters Springs by Lowry Park Zoo and Sea to Shore Alliance. She stayed in the nearby area that afternoon exploring and socializing with the other animals there. On Wednesday, 2/17/10, Myra was observed in the small sanctuary just outside Three Sisters Springs socializing with the 30+ animals there. Myra was seen at Three Sisters Springs again on Monday, 2/22/10, without her tag. Melody re-tagged her there on Tuesday, 2/23/10, where she was milling and socializing with Coral Lee. Her tag was found again floating near Three Sisters Springs on Wednesday, 2/24/10, and re-tagging efforts began again. She was observed on Friday, 2/26/10, in the sanctuary around Banana Island with a large number of other animals. Sea To Shore continues to attempt to re-tag Myra.

3/01/10-3/08/10: Myra was re-tagged at Three Sisters Springs on Wednesday, 3/03/10, by Melody. She then socialized with the 9 others in the area including CC and Little Nap.

3/09/10-3/15/10: Myra was observed Wednesday, 3/10/10, bottom-resting in the sanctuary at Magnolia Springs within a large group of 30 or more animals. On Friday, 3/12/10, she traveled out to the end of Salt River, then came back to the intersection of Salt River and Crystal River on Saturday, 3/13/10.

3/16/10-3/23/10: Myra was observed milling in the northern section of Kings Bay on Tuesday, 3/16/10, with one other animal. She was seen in Three Sisters Springs on Friday, 3/19/10, socializing with other animals.

3/24/10-3/31/10: Myra was observed on Monday, 3/22/10, in the sanctuary on the south shore of Banana Island milling with 3 other animals. On Sunday, 3/28/10, she was observed without her tag milling into Three Sisters Springs with 4 other animals. Melody was able to re-tag her on Monday, 3/29/10.

4/01/10-4/06/10: After being re-tagged on Monday, Myra has socialized at Three Sisters Springs this week and traveled around Kings Bay.

4/07/10-4/12/10: Myra was reported to have been pacing on Wednesday, 4/07/10, in Hunters Spring. She was observed on Friday, 4/09/10, near Hunters Spring by herself, at first lying still calmly on bottom and then pacing as she moved up a canal. The pacing behavior will be watched closely.

-2/28/10: On Tuesday, 2/16/10, Myra was released at Three Sisters Springs by Lowry Park Zoo and Sea to Shore Alliance. She stayed in the nearby area that afternoon exploring and socializing with the other animals there. On Wednesday, 2/17/10, Myra was observed in the small sanctuary just outside Three Sisters Springs socializing with the 30+ animals there. Myra was seen at Three Sisters Springs again on Monday, 2/22/10, without her tag. Melody re-tagged her there on Tuesday, 2/23/10, where she was milling and socializing with Coral Lee. Her tag was found again floating near Three Sisters Springs on Wednesday, 2/24/10, and re-tagging efforts began again. She was observed on Friday, 2/26/10, in the sanctuary around Banana Island with a large number of other animals. Sea To Shore continues to attempt to re-tag Myra.

3/01/10-3/08/10: Myra was re-tagged at Three Sisters Springs on Wednesday, 3/03/10, by Melody. She then socialized with the 9 others in the area including CC and Little Nap.

3/09/10-3/15/10: Myra was observed Wednesday, 3/10/10, bottom-resting in the sanctuary at Magnolia Springs within a large group of 30 or more animals. On Friday, 3/12/10, she traveled out to the end of Salt River, then came back to the intersection of Salt River and Crystal River on Saturday, 3/13/10.

3/16/10-3/23/10: Myra was observed milling in the northern section of Kings Bay on Tuesday, 3/16/10, with one other animal. She was seen in Three Sisters Springs on Friday, 3/19/10, socializing with other animals.

4/01/10-4/06/10: After being re-tagged on Monday, Myra has socialized at Three Sisters Springs this week and traveled around Kings Bay.

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