Current:Home > ContactHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -Dynamic Money Growth
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-15 00:26:59
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! (1)
Related
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- What you need to know about aspartame and cancer
- Amid the Devastation of Hurricane Ian, a New Study Charts Alarming Flood Risks for U.S. Hospitals
- Good jobs Friday
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Who Were the Worst Climate Polluters in the US in 2021?
- Good jobs Friday
- Damian Lillard talks Famous Daves and a rap battle with Shaq
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Summer School 1: Planet Money goes to business school
Ranking
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Summer School 1: Planet Money goes to business school
- With Fossil Fuel Companies Facing Pressure to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Private Equity Is Buying Up Their Aging Oil, Gas and Coal Assets
- Wisconsin Advocates Push to Ensure $700 Million in Water Infrastructure Improvements Go to Those Who Need It Most
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Our fireworks show
- The secret to Barbie's enduring appeal? She can fend for herself
- I'm a Shopping Editor, Here's What I'm Buying During Amazon Prime Day 2023
Recommendation
What to watch: O Jolie night
Biden kept Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports. This is who pays the price
Two Indicators: After Affirmative Action & why America overpays for subways
Trumpet was too loud, clarinet was too soft — here's 'The Story of the Saxophone'
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
Ryan Gosling Proves He's Way More Than Just Ken With Fantastic Musical Performance
Does Love Is Blind Still Work? Lauren Speed-Hamilton Says...
Pressing Safety Concerns, Opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline Gear Up for the Next Round of Battle