Current:Home > StocksHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -Finovate
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-14 18:01:39
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
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- Finally Some Good News! China Says Giant Pandas Are No Longer Endangered
- Marlon Wayans' Father Howell Wayans Dead at 86
- A supervolcano in Italy last erupted in 1538. Experts warn it's nearly to the breaking point again.
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Maralee Nichols' New Photos of Her and Tristan Thompson's Son Showcase True Happiness
- Farmers Are Feeling The Pain As Drought Spreads In The Northwest
- Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry Bond Over Their Ugly Cry Face
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- About 100 people killed after boat returning from wedding capsizes in Nigeria
Ranking
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Just 10 Etsy Finds Our Shopping Editors Are Obsessed With This Month
- 2 Americans found dead in their hotel room in Mexico's Baja California Sur
- Controversial Influencer Andrew Tate and Brother Tristan Released From Romanian Jail
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Qantas allowing male cabin crew members to wear makeup and women to scrap high-heels
- The Drought In The Western U.S. Is Getting Bad. Climate Change Is Making It Worse
- TikToker Chris Olsen Reveals Relationship Status After Kissing Meghan Trainor’s Brother Ryan
Recommendation
California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
This Glow-Enhancing Lotion With 15,300+ 5-Star Reviews Is a Primer, Highlighter, Moisturizer, and More
Sofia Richie Converts to Judaism Ahead of Wedding to Elliot Grainge
Blinken meets with Chinese foreign minister as U.S. hopes to open communication channels to avoid military clash
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Love Is Blind's Bliss Got Into a Fight With Irina Over Grilled Cheese That Didn't Make the Show
Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Trial Juror Addresses Whether Her Fame Affected Verdict Decision
Justin Long Confirms Kate Bosworth Engagement With Story About His Romantic Proposal