Current:Home > NewsHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -Ascend Wealth Education
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-14 16:39:56
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! (6652)
Related
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- Apple Watch Series 10: a larger and brighter screen, here is what we know
- Chappell Roan Steals the Show With 2024 MTV VMAs Performance Amid Backlash for Canceling Concerts
- Karen Read asks Massachusetts high court to dismiss two charges
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Teen Mom’s Catelynn Lowell Claps Back at Critics Over Feud With Daughter’s Adoptive Parents
- Tyreek Hill: I could have 'been better' during police interaction before detainment
- US filings for unemployment benefits inch up slightly but remain historically low
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- Webcam captures its own fiery demise from spread of Airport Fire: See timelapse footage
Ranking
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- How Taylor Swift Surpassed Beyoncé’s MTV VMAs Record
- Diver’s body is recovered from Lake Michigan shipwreck
- MLB playoff picture: Wild card standings, 2024 division standings
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Wholesale inflation mostly cooled last month in latest sign that price pressures are slowing
- Firefighters hope cooler weather will aid their battle against 3 major Southern California fires
- 'My son is not a monster': Mother of Georgia shooting suspect apologizes in letter
Recommendation
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
Nearly six months later, a $1.1 billion Mega Millions jackpot still hasn’t been claimed
Raging western wildfires are causing unhealthy air quality in Nevada, Arizona, California
Police respond to an active shooting at an apartment building in the Denver suburb of Broomfield
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
Where is 'College GameDay' for Week 3? Location, what to know for ESPN show
Dave Grohl and Wife Jordyn Blum Were All Smiles on Wimbledon Date 2 Months Before His Baby News
Mississippi man found not guilty of threatening Republican US Sen. Roger Wicker