Current:Home > reviewsHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -PrestigeTrade
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-18 08:57:01
While the rest of the country may have laughed at Florida for being cold in 50-degree weather, manatees were cozying up to each other to escape the chilly waters.
A video from the Southwest Florida Water Management District posted on Friday shows hundreds of manatees speckling the shoreline of the Three Sisters Springs, located north of Tampa.
That shoreline was recently renovated to restore the habitat, which is critical for manatees seeking the warm waters from the spring, according to a post on the restoration project by the organization.
Three Sisters Springs is part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, the only national wildlife refuge in the U.S. dedicated to protecting manatees.
Manatees in Florida:Viral video of manatee's living conditions feels like a 'gut punch,' sparks relocation from Florida facility
Why do manatees huddle together?
According to a post by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, aquatic mammals don't get heat from being so close together, but rather they are all trying to fit in the small springs where the water is warmer.
While the beloved sea cows may look cute all crowded together, that means they don't cuddle so much as huddle close to shore.
Manatees, native to Florida, deemed a threatened species
The Florida manatee is a large, gray aquatic mammal native to the region. They typically grow to be nine to 10 feet long and weigh approximately 1,000 pounds.
The Florida manatee was classified as an endangered species before its population reached more than 7,500 and it was reclassified as "threatened," meaning it still could become an endangered species in the near future.
Collisions with boats and loss of habitats that provide warm waters, like the one at Crystal River, threaten the manatee population. Many manatees are also struggling to find food.
"The loss of warm water refuges is seen as a serious long-term threat to the continued existence of the manatee," according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Due to the inability to regulate their body temperature (thermoregulate) in cold water, cold stress is a serious threat to the manatee."
The big, blobby creatures are plant-eaters, often feeding on seagrass that has earned them the nickname, "sea cows."
Contributing: Jim Waymer, Florida Today
veryGood! (6767)
Related
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Man with boogaloo ties convicted in shooting death of federal officer during protests over George Floyd killing
- A Turkish film festival has been threatened by accusations of censorship
- Pregnant Jana Kramer Shares Bonding Moment Between Fiancé Allan Russell and Ex Mike Caussin
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- China accuses Taiwan’s government of using economic and trade issues to seek independence
- Investigating Taylor Swift's Flawless Red Lipstick at the Kansas City Chiefs Game
- Man who was rescued after falling overboard from tanker has died
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg kicks off developer conference with focus on AI, virtual reality
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Deion Sanders still winning in Black community after first loss at Colorado
- Save $210 on the Perricone MD Skincare Product Reviewers Call Liquid Gold
- House advances GOP-backed spending bills, but threat of government shutdown remains
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Judge considers accusations that New Mexico Democrats tried to dilute votes with redistricting map
- Jennifer Aniston's Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle Includes This Challenging Yet Important Step
- Fantasy football rankings for Week 4: What can the Dolphins do for an encore?
Recommendation
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Angelina Jolie Shares Rare Insight into Life With Her and Brad Pitt's Kids
Plan to travel? How a government shutdown could affect your trip.
A Jim Crow satire returns to Broadway after 62 years — and it's a romp, not a relic
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Rabid otter bites Florida man 41 times while he was feeding birds
Bulgarian parliament approves additional weapons to Ukraine to aid in its war with Russia
'Wow, I'm an Olympian': American breakdancing world champ books ticket to Paris Olympics