Howie

Howie is one of the most popular manatees at Blue Spring State Park. He has returned every winter since 197t and seems to enjoy giving the researchers and rangers a very hard time. One of his many accomplishments involved following a canoe with two U.S. Fish and Wildlife researchers in it. When the perfect moment came, he innocently "bumped" the canoe, dumping researchers, camera equipment, and assorted paraphernalia into the water. Howie, in the meantime, swam a safe distance away and watched the confusion with a very self-satisfied smirk!

Because he has no fear of swimmers and seems to be a bit of a ham, Howie has become very popular over the years with nature photographers. He truly seems to enjoy posing for the cameras, even to the point of nudging other manatees out of the way. Howie can be seen on pages 412-413 of the September 1984 National Geographic magazine. Howie has a reputation as a "womanizer," and he spends a lot of time chasing females around the spring. He can also be found down at the swimming area, teasing humans. Swimmers are not allowed in the swimming area when manatees are there. We think Howie knows this. Be seems to take great delight in taking over the swimming area, much to the dismay of the people there.

1996-1997: Howie came in "fashionably late" to Blue Spring this year, making his first appearance on November 24. Many of the Blue Spring manatees arrived mid-November. Ranger Wayne reported Howie was in 18 times this year, with only half of these appearances at roll call. All of his remaining visits were recorded after roll call. Ranger Wayne suspects Howie was trying to dodge the canoe. He was still "canoe shy" this year, and we're sad to say he took a beating over the summer with multiple boat strikes, something poor Howie does not need. Don't worry though, none of them were life-threatening, and he's doing okay now. It was a warm winter, and many of the manatees at Blue Spring State Park left early for the season. Howie was no exception. On February 17, he left for the summer in the company of 13 other manatees.

1995-1996: The manatee season at Blue Spring ran from November 12, 1995 to March 26, 1996 this year. Howie showed up fairly early, coming in on November 18 in the company of Luna and her daughter Lucille (yes, he' s still following the females around!). We are sad to report that Howie was hit by a boat this year, hut don't worry. Ranger Wayne said his injury was minor, and he is doing just fine. Come spring, Howie must have wanted to be one of the crowd, because he left on March 23, the biggest day for saying, "see you next winter!" He was one of eight manatees who made their last roll call for the season on that day. Howie was only identified 21 times this year, but Ranger Wayne thinks he was in many more times and was missed as he fled when the research canoe approached.

1994-1995: Howie made his first appearance at the park on December 16. He managed to make roll call 20 times this season. There were no reports of capsized canoes this year. Instead, Howie chose to focus his attention on others more his "type." He kept himself entertained by bothering the female manatees at Blue Spring State Park. They were probably glad to see him leave on March 11. Howie and Lenny, another one of the manatees in the adoption program, left together.

1993-1994: Howie showed up at Blue Spring on November 1, even earlier than he came in last season! Unfortunately, he was the only adoptee who was struck by a boat this winter. Luckily it was not serious, just a light skeg cut on his tail. Howie tried to duck by Ranger Wayne several times during the season but was still seen for roll call 25 times. On May 23, Howie was in and out of the run several times over a couple of hours, starting at 1 1:00 a.m. He was chasing one of the young females named Delain, much to her great displeasure. But, after all, Howie does have a reputation to protect!

1992-1993: Howie was an early bird and came in for the 1992-1993 Manatee Season on November 9. He had a new cut on his tail, but other than that, he looks well. He was spotted 26 times this year.

1991-1992: Howie came in with Philip on November 13. The ''X" on his back is almost completely healed, but he has collected a couple of miscellaneous minor prop cuts. When he came in, he shot by the canoe on his way to the swimming area, but then came back to see what was going on. When that got boring, he went on up to the swimming area to see if there were any swimmers to bother! Amorous as always, Howie spent a great deal of time in and around the run all season chasing the females, but he actually was spotted by himself- once! He left on March 27 with 38 recorded visits.

1990-1991: Howie was seen on July 28, 1990 with several of the other adoptees, frolicking in the run. He showed up promptly on the first official day of the season (November 13, 1990) and stayed until March 21. He received a long skeg cut on his right back and then later got another one that made an "X" with the earlier hit. It hasn't affected him. He was his old self, very amorous, and followed the canoe up and down the run looking hopeful. However, he didn't find an opportunity to send Ranger Hartley for a swim!

1989-1990: Howie was in from November 19 to January 28 and was seen 23 times. He suffered two very small propeller cuts on the left side of his head sometime around December 13. On March 22, a photographer filmed Lily's one-year-old daughter Lillith and described a very big manatee that came in and left. When the video was seen in April by Ranger Hartley, guess who was hugging little Lillith? None other than Howie

1988-l989: Because of the mild winter, many of the manatees who frequent Blue Spring didn't visit as often as in past years. This didn't stop Howie from making 34 appearances, and he stayed in during all of the cold snaps. He wasn't as rambunctious around the research canoe this year. We're sure that's a relief to Ranger Hartley! Howie departed on March 13, the last official day of the season.

1987-1988: After making 45 roll calls, Howie departed on March 7. Although he was somewhat calmer this year, he still rushed to the research canoe. Several times he almost toppled Ranger Hartley into the spring. He was not observed in even one of the estrus herds this year.

1986-1987: Howie came in on December 16, behaving the same as usual. One evening, he went right up to a researcher who was testing dive masks in the swim area. He left on April 10 after at least 26 appearances.

1985-1986: Howie looked good and was recorded visiting the spring 30 times. His arrival date was December 6, and he departed on March 24.