Current:Home > MarketsHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -WealthRoots Academy
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
PredictIQ View
Date:2025-04-07 10:43:13
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! (59)
Related
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Remote Lake Superior island wolf numbers are stable but moose population declining, researchers say
- Candace Parker was more than a great talent. She was a hero to a generation of Black girls.
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs files motion to dismiss sex trafficking claim in sexual assault lawsuit
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- GaxEx Exchange Breaks into the Global Top Ten, Illuminating the Crypto World this Winter: Exclusive Celebration for Crypto Enthusiasts Begins
- Travis Kelce's NFL Future With Kansas City Chiefs Revealed
- Where is the Kentucky Derby? What to know about Churchill Downs before 2024 race
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- 1000-lb Sisters’ Tammy Slaton Shows Off Transformation in Swimsuit Photo With Pal Haley Michelle
Ranking
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Death of Frank Tyson, Ohio man who told police 'I can't breathe' has echoes of George Floyd
- Prosecutors at Donald Trump’s hush money trial zero in on the details
- Gerard Depardieu detained for questioning in connection with alleged sexual assaults
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Why Jon Bon Jovi Says Millie Bobby Brown Fits Perfectly With Their Family
- Iconic arch that served as Iditarod finish line collapses in Alaska. Wood rot is likely the culprit
- Tony Awards: Which Broadway shows are eligible for nominations? When is the 2024 show?
Recommendation
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Los Angeles vegan restaurant to add meat dishes, says lifestyle not solution for all
Cameo's Most Surprisingly Affordable Celebrity Cameos That Are Definitely in Your Budget
Highway back open after train carrying propane derails at Arizona-New Mexico state line
Average rate on 30
Williams-Sonoma must pay $3.2 million for falsely claiming products were Made in the USA
Connecticut governor takes partial blame for illegal cutting of 186 trees on neighbor’s property
Person stabbed after argument on LA bus, one day after new protective barriers for drivers are announced