Creatures endure cold-blast impacts all way to Florida
It is pretty well known that almost all wild animals adapt to the freezing conditions we all endured as the new year began. In fact, I think the most intelligent mammal suffered the most as temperatures dropped below zero — human beings.
A couple of years ago I wrote about manatees and how they survived cold weather. This year, along with the sub-zero temperatures around here, Florida, where an estimated 6,500 manatees hang out, also went through a prolonged “cold” snap. There were several days below freezing in central Florida.
During these cold spells, manatees, great underwater elephant-like creatures, must find water higher than 68 degrees to survive. Despite their size, the slow-moving creatures have little body fat and slow metabolism. No fur coats to keep them warm.
So, they find water warm enough for survival. For the most part, power plant discharges are protecting the creatures with a constant supply of warm water. Where there are no power plants, manatees find refuge in places with spring water warmer than 68. Such a place is Blue Spring State Park in the middle of the state on the St. Johns River.
When the water temp drops below 72, the manatees head for Blue Spring and fill the lagoon. Last week a high of 485 manatees were counted. The neat thing is the public can watch them from the park’s large dock and hiking trail. The best time to see them is on cold days from mid-November to mid-March.
Turtle trouble: Another creature that has trouble with the cold is the sea turtle. Hundreds of sea turtles are washing up on Florida shores due to “cold stunning,” caused by cold water.
“When the water temperatures drop too much, our resident population of juvenile turtles, some adults even, are stunned,” Jessica Swindall, a Florida Coastal Conservancy volunteer, told one of the Florida TV stations. “They can’t utilize their muscles at all, so they can’t swim; they can’t lift their heads to breathe.”
I saw a video of biologists with nets rescuing the floating turtles, which are gradually warmed and eventually returned to the ocean or gulf.
“They are cold-blooded animals, so their body temperature is the same temperature as their surroundings, so they cannot function. And similar to when people are in a very cold environment, they get sort of sleepy,” Gulf World Marine Institute senior veterinarian Julie Cavin told the TV station.
The turtles float helplessly and some wash up on shore. I checked the Marine Science Center near Daytona Beach and they said they were treating five cold-stunned turtles at that time. Statewide, the number could exceed 1,000.
Deer total down: Hunters checked 13,268 whitetailed deer during Ohio’s muzzleloader season, Jan. 6-9, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. During last year’s muzzleloader season, 15,843 were checked.
Hunters still have opportunities to pursue deer this winter, as archery season is open through Feb. 4.
Results from area counties with last year’s totals in parentheses: Adams 208 (308), Allen 57 (50) Auglaize 57 (48),Brown 159 (230), Butler 93 (75), Champaign 60 (72), Clark 47 (42), Clermont 109 (168), Clinton 63 (59), Darke 28 (37), Greene 51 (47), Hamilton 34 (39), Highland 203 (216), Logan 127 (136), Mercer 28 (29), Miami 45 (41), Montgomery 29 (29) Preble 69 (63), Shelby 60 (67), Warren 82 (63).