PAGE 12 - December 29, 2010
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
FWC installs manatee camera
at Three Sisters Springs
In its continual efforts to protect the Florida manatee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) has implemented a new strategy. In coordination with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the FWC has installed a camera at the entrance to Three
Sisters Springs in Crystal River.
Three Sisters Springs attracts a large number of manatees during the colder months
and is therefore a popular spot for manatee viewing. To protect the manatees, the USFWS
has established several areas around the springs where entry is prohibited. Additionally, the
FWC set up a camera that streams live video to a public website, allowing remote viewing
of manatee activity.
“The FWC gets many complaints regarding manatee harassment,” said Lt. Col.
Bruce Buckson of the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “Now, officers and dispatch
can check the live, online video if complaints come in regarding Three Sisters Springs.”
FWC biologists will also be able to monitor concentrations of manatees and people visiting
the springs to see them.
The camera is fully solar-powered and will operate only from dawn to dusk.
M
embers of the public can view the video, but there are also a few technical details to know
Only peopleaccess theone time. peopleaccess it,
first. 30 can website at If additional try to
they will receive an error message until spaces open
up. Visitors will be prompted to install
controllers the first visit also on
ActiveX time they the website. Viewers can click the cam-
era icon to take a snapshotthe
of video.
The public can see the live images by visiting the FWC on the internet and click-
ing on the “Single” tab at the top of the page. It may take several minutes after clicking the
“Single” tab before visitors are prompted to install additional software.
AARON KELLY of American Idol’s Season 9 (2010) visited Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs
Wildlife State Park in early December with his family. He was looking forward to seeing the
appy New Ye
Happy Ne Year
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manatees and other park animals.
Fromthe Staff
the Staff
and Management of
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