Manatee spotted in Lake Cicott Anonymous Pharos-Tribune 12:38AM EST By KEVIN LILLY Pharos-Tribune staff writer Conservation Officer Brenda Louthain confirmed the sighting of a non-native aquatic animal in Lake Cicott. Two bass fisherman saw what they believed was a manatee feeding on vegetation. Both men, who wish to remain anonymous, said they knew it was a manatee because they have been fishing in Florida. When Louthain received the phone call, she thought it was hoax being that it was so close to April 1. She went to see for herself. Upon arrival, she said she saw a large creature near the bank closest to U.S. 24. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” said Louthain, who has been a conservation officer in Indiana for 23 years, 20 of which have been spent in Cass County. She immediately contacted the Florida Marine Patrol, who also thought it was some kind of joke. She finally convinced them to take her seriously. They advised her on what to do. “An immediate strategic plan to remove the manatee is imperative to its survival,” Louthain said. “It cannot survive for long in the cold waters of Lake Cicott.” Manatees normally live in the warm waters of Florida, but some have been tracked to as far as Rhode Island. The mystery of the manatee in Lake Cicott is how it got there. The lake is suspected to be bottomless and fed by the underground Teays River. One theory is that the manatee somehow swam from the Florida Aquifer, an intricate underground system of water-filled caves that run beneath the state. It is nearly impossible to know the exact extent of the aquifer system. Many scuba divers have perished while exploring the extensive underwater cave system. Many divers agree that only a small fraction of the caves have been explored. In all of her years as a conservation officer, Louthain said she has never seen or heard about anything like this. She did assist in capturing an alligator from the Wabash River 10 years ago. The large reptile had escaped from an exotic animal farm. She said capturing the alligator was simple because of its feeding habits. Capturing the manatee may not be as easy. A crew of biologists and conservation officers plan to capture the manatee today. A crane also will be on site to remove the 1,000-pound vegetarian from the water. The group will then put the manatee on a semi to be transported back to Florida. Additional manatee information: Hundreds of Hoosiers fly south for the winter. It is important for them to realize the delicate balance between humans and manatees. Manatee’s often fall prey to boat propellers, just as Pharos-Tribune readers are fooled on this first day of April. April fools! - See more at: pharostribune/local/x488862965/Manatee-spotted-in-Lake-Cicott?keyword=leadpicturestory#sthash.D0HgNlUW.dpuf
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:46:52 +0000
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