Current:Home > FinanceHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch-LoTradeCoin
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View Date:2025-01-11 13:51:13
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! (9488)
Related
- Spirit Airlines cancels release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
- USWNT captain Lindsey Horan says most American fans 'aren't smart' about soccer
- Gisele Bündchen pays tribute to her late mother: You were an angel on earth
- The breast cancer burden in lower income countries is even worse than we thought
- Georgia House Democrats shift toward new leaders after limited election gains
- Georgia Senate passes sports betting bill, but odds dim with as constitutional amendment required
- Former Ohio Senate President Stanley Aronoff dies at 91
- Biden signs order approving sanctions for Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinians in the West Bank
- Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn Coming Out of Retirement at 40
- Small plane crashes in Pennsylvania neighborhood. It’s not clear if there are any injuries
Ranking
- 1 monkey captured, 42 monkeys still on the loose after escaping research facility in SC
- 'Black joy is contagious': Happiness for Black Americans is abundant, but disparities persist
- Lawmakers move to help veterans at risk of losing their homes
- US center’s tropical storm forecasts are going inland, where damage can outstrip coasts
- Former North Carolina labor commissioner becomes hospital group’s CEO
- The Best Red Outfits for February’s Big Football Game
- Kelly Clarkson opens up about diagnosis that led to weight loss: 'I wasn't shocked'
- How to Grow Thicker, Fuller Hair, According to a Dermatologist
Recommendation
-
Joel Embiid injury, suspension update: When is 76ers star's NBA season debut?
-
Arkansas police chief arrested and charged with kidnapping
-
Beheading video posted on YouTube prompts response from social media platform
-
WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith signs with Storm; ex-MVP Tina Charles lands with Dream
-
Record-setting dry conditions threaten more US wildfires, drinking water supplies
-
FDA says 561 deaths tied to recalled Philips sleep apnea machines
-
NCAA recorded nearly $1.3 billion in revenue in 2023, putting net assets at $565 million
-
As Maine governor pushes for new gun laws, Lewiston shooting victims' families speak out