Current:Home > MarketsHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -Wealth Impact Academy
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-26 11:06:34
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! (98)
Related
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- Americans are getting more therapy than ever -- and spending more. Here's why.
- Auburn running back Brian Battie on ventilator after weekend shooting in Florida, coach says
- Target to cut prices on 5,000 products in bid to lure cash-strapped customers
- Sam Taylor
- Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Step Out Together Amid Breakup Rumors
- California county’s farm bureau sues over state monitoring of groundwater
- There was a fatal shooting at this year’s ‘Jeep Week’ event on Texas Gulf Coast. Here’s what to know
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Kennesaw State University student fatally shot in front of residence hall; suspect charged
Ranking
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Tori Spelling Reveals Multiple Stomach Piercings She Got as a Gift From Her Kids
- Xander Schauffele gets validation and records with one memorable putt at PGA Championship
- Anne Hathaway's White-Hot Corset Gown Is From Gap—Yes, Really
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- At least 27 killed in central Gaza airstrike as U.S. envoy visits the region
- Analysis: New screens, old strategy. Streamers like Netflix, Apple turn to good old cable bundling
- Travis Kelce Reveals How His Loved Ones Balance Him Out
Recommendation
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
You may want to eat more cantaloupe this summer. Here's why.
Tennessee professor swept away by wave during Brazil study-abroad trip has died
Why Eva Longoria Says Her 5-Year-Old Son Santiago Is Very Bougie
Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
Israeli and Hamas leaders join list of people accused by leading war crimes court
New romance books for a steamy summer: Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Kevin Kwan, more
Inmate wins compassionate release order hours after being rushed to hospital, put on life support