Current:Home > StocksHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -Prime Money Path
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-11 12:16:31
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! (31)
Related
- 'Most Whopper
- Princess Charlotte and Prince George Make Adorable Appearance at King Charles III's Coronation Concert
- Miami's Little Haiti joins global effort to end cervical cancer
- How Harris is listening — and speaking — about abortion rights before the midterms
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Some States Forging Ahead With Emissions Reduction Plans, Despite Supreme Court Ruling
- Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa's injury sparks concern over the NFL's concussion policies
- Matty Healy Joins Phoebe Bridgers Onstage as She Opens for Taylor Swift on Eras Tour
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- With Order to Keep Gas in Leaking Facility, Regulators Anger Porter Ranch Residents
Ranking
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- New Federal Rules Target Methane Leaks, Flaring and Venting
- We Bet You Don't Know These Stars' Real Names
- How Queen Charlotte’s Corey Mylchreest Prepared for Becoming the Next Bridgerton Heartthrob
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Check Out the Most Surprising Celeb Transformations of the Week
- Fracking the Everglades? Many Floridians Recoil as House Approves Bill
- Blake Lively's Trainer Wants You to Sleep More and Not Count Calories (Yes, Really)
Recommendation
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
The FDA has officially declared a shortage of Adderall
Are We Ready for Another COVID Surge?
Botched Smart Meter Roll Outs Provoking Consumer Backlash
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Mercaptans in Methane Leak Make Porter Ranch Residents Sick, and Fearful
10 Gift Baskets That Will Arrive Just in Time for Mother’s Day
Climate Legal Paradox: Judges Issue Dueling Rulings for Cities Suing Fossil Fuel Companies