PAGE 12 - February 2, 2011
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Betty Berger Celebrates 92 Years
FWRI Volunteer Capt. Mike Dunn (wearing waders) and Capt. Mike Lineberger who spotted the
Betty Berger, born January 29, 1919, celebrated her 92 years young birthday last
dead manatee. Photo by: Capt. Stacy Dunn - FWRI Volunteer
Dead Manatee Found In Yankeetown
week at the annual Withlacoochee Area Residents (WAR) annual meeting. Friend Louise
Lombardi looks on as Betty slices the large decorated sheet cake that was part of the WAR
refreshments.Betty and family moved just north of Inglis in 1957. 22 years later she moved
Special to The Newscaster by Stacy Dunn
into her present home on the Withlacoochee River in Inglis. She went to work for Florida
On Friday, we got a call from Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) that
Power Corp in 1966, retiring in 1981. Betty not only authored 2 books, started a Native
a dead manatee was reported by Capt. Mike Lineberger on Wednesday, somewhere in the
American Gathering on her property but has spent many of her years fighting environmental
high grassy islands along the Gulf area near Yankeetown. No wildlife agency was able to
issues. Her belief is “you only lose when you quit.” No better people to celebrate with than
respond at this time. Mike and Stacy Dunn are volunteers in this area for FWRI, the agency
the group of friends that are all interested in protecting the Nature Coast’s natural resources.
recovers and performs necropsies on all dead manatees, so off they went to hopefully find
Happy Birthday Betty.
the carcass.
Around 3 pm we met with the gentleman who called it in, Mike Lineberger from
TUES - THURS 10 am - 5 pm • FRI 10 am-6 pm • SAT 9 am - 4 pm • SUN Closed
Yankeetown. He told us a few days ago he was kayaking out along the islands and saw the
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carcass up partially on the shoreline. He called it in to FWC Wildlife Hotline 1-888-404-
3922 which he said he saw in last weeks Newscaster.
We loaded our boat and headed out, met Capt. Mike (Lineberger) who we want to
447-2611
46 U.S. Hwy. 19
Food Ranch Plaza
Inglis, FL
(352)
“THANK” for taking the time to help us locate the dead manatee. This area is very tricky to
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navigate through, except by airboat, as most places aren’t very deep and the bottom is full
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of oyster beds. This water is very cold, our temperature gauge showed 56 degrees, too cold
for manatees. Not sure how the manatee got here or why the manatee was in this area. With
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the recent winds and high tides the carcass had floated away.
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Luckily with the 3 captains onboard, discussing the recent tides and winds, we
were able to figure out in what direction the carcass floated and relocated it. We carefully
towed it back to the closest boat ramp where FWRI personnel picked up the carcass the next
morning. The whole recovery took about 3 and a half hours.
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