Current:Home > FinanceHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -Trailblazer Capital Learning
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-13 01:26:46
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! (4)
Related
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for murdering victim whose headless body was found in a park
- 'The Blind Side' movie controversy explained: Who profited from Michael Oher's life story?
- Is spicy food good for you? Yes –but here's what you should know.
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- U.S. jobless claims applications fall as labor market continues to show resiliency
- This week on Sunday Morning: By Design (August 20)
- Leonard Bernstein's children defend Bradley Cooper following criticism over prosthetic nose
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- 'Barbie' blockbuster now Warner Bros. No. 1 domestic film of all time: Box office report
Ranking
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark says league is done with expansion after growing to 16
- Horoscopes Today, August 17, 2023
- Honda Accord performed best in crash tests involving 6 midsized cars, IIHS study shows
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- The Killers apologize for bringing Russian fan on stage in former Soviet state of Georgia
- Key takeaways from Trump's indictment in Georgia's 2020 election interference case
- Tom Brady Jokes His New Gig in Retirement Involves Blackpink and Daughter Vivian
Recommendation
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
Here’s the Secret To Getting Bouncy, Long-Lasting Curls With Zero Effort
Billy Dee Williams' new memoir is nearly here—preorder your copy today
Watch: Antonio Gates gets emotional after surprise Chargers Hall of Fame induction
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
South Korea’s spy agency says North Korea is preparing ICBM tests, spy satellite launch
Is spicy food good for you? Yes –but here's what you should know.
Swifties called announcement of '1989 (Taylor’s Version)' and say they can guess her next three releases