ManateeoftheMonth:FlickerFlickerchecksoutaresearcherdoingmanateephotoidentificationwork.(PhotocourtesyofFWCC)WhenyoufirstseeFlicker,youcan'thelpbutnoticethemanysmallpropellerscarsthatrunacrossherback.Whenshewasidentifiedin1983nearFt.Myers,Florida,aFloridaFishandWildlifeConservationCommission(FWCC)researchercommentedthatherscarslookedlikeflickeringflames.That'showshegothername.Flickerhashadmorethanonerun-inwithaboat.Hertailismissingafewchunksfromcontactwithapropeller,andshe'salsohadhershareofentanglementwoes(moreonthatlater).Butthathasn'tstoppedherfromrackingupmanateemilesonherfrequenttripsaroundTampaBay.Inthewinter,FlickerhangsoutatTampaElectricCompany's(TECO)powerplantinApolloBeach,Florida.Manateescan'ttoleratewatertemperaturesbelow21°C(70°F),andtheygathernearnaturalspringsorwarmwateroutflowofpowerplantswhentheweatherturnscolder.BesidesvisitingtheTECOplant,FlickeralsomakestripsacrossthebaytotheFloridaProgressplantinBartow.Afterall,shedoesn'twanttoplayfavorites!Herdistinctivescarsresemble"flickeringflames"andearnedFlickerhernameAfewyearsago,Flickerliterallygotcaughtupinsometroublethatturnedintoarealadventureforherandherrescuers.Oneday,residentsofCoffeepotBayouinTampaBayreportedamanateewithacrabtraplineandabouywrappedaroundhertail.ItwasFlicker.Buttheextraadditionsdidn'tslowherdown.Shetowedthelineandbouyalmost10nauticalmilesacrossthebay!ThensheturnednorthtotheAlafiaRiverwhereshepickedupmorelineandanotherbouy.Andthenshegotcaughtintwomooringlinesattachedtoahouseboat.BythetimetheFWCCrescuestaffhadarrived,Flicker--whoisabigmanatee--hadstrippedoffoneofthebouysandalmostswampedalawenforcementboat.Ittookthreeattemptsbytherescuestaff(alongwithacoupleofcleatsandseveralplanksfromthehouseboat)beforeshewasfree.BothFlickerandherrescuersescapedwithnoinjuries.Andshe'sstillcontinuingtotrekacrossTampaBay.Infact,lastwinter,shewasabay-widetraveler,visitingTECO,theFloridaProgress'powerplant,andCulbreathKey(acrossthebayfromFloridaProgress)allinoneyear.Thewinterfluctuatedbetweencoldandwarmweather,andFlickermayhavedecidedtohightailittoBartowwhenthingswarmedupabit.Thewarmwaterdispersesfasterthereontheunprotectedflats,butlushseagrassbedscanbefound,sotherearealwaysgoodeats!We'rehappytoreportthatlastspringFlickerwasspottedwithsixotheradultsintheCulbreathIslesarea--inanareanewlyprotectedbyboatspeedzonesformanatees.Flickerkeepsontruckin'acrossTampaBay.(PhotocourtesyofFWCC)
