Current:Home > FinanceBurley Garcia|Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -EverVision Finance
Burley Garcia|Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
Surpassing Quant Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-10 00:54:25
While the rest of the country may have Burley Garcialaughed 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! (1736)
Related
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Matthew Perry’s Stepdad Keith Morrison Speaks Out on His Death
- Israeli hostage returned to family is the same but not the same, her niece says
- Sri Lanka says it struck a deal with creditors on debt restructuring to clear way for IMF funds
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Savannah Guthrie announces 'very personal' faith-based book 'Mostly What God Does'
- Former New Hampshire lawmaker faces multiple charges related to moving out of his district
- Burkina Faso’s state media says hundreds of rebels have been killed trying to seize vulnerable town
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Meet 'Samba': The vape-sniffing K9 dog in Florida schools used to crack down on vaping
Ranking
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- An ailing Pope Francis appears at a weekly audience but says he’s not well and has aide read speech
- Lisa Barlow's Latest Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Meltdown Is Hot Mic Rant 2.0
- Missing U.S. airman is accounted for 79 years after bomber Queen Marlene shot down in France
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- In California, Farmers Test a Method to Sink More Water into Underground Stores
- Kendall Jenner Reveals How She Navigates Heated Conversations With Momager Kris Jenner
- Why Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek Are Bonded for Life After This Airport Pickup Moment
Recommendation
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Latest projection points to modest revenue boost for Maine government
Rosalynn Carter set for funeral and burial in the town where she and her husband were born
Kendall Jenner, Latto, Dylan Mulvaney, Matt Rife make Forbes 30 Under 30 list
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
An ailing Pope Francis appears at a weekly audience but says he’s not well and has aide read speech
High-fat flight is first jetliner to make fossil-fuel-free transatlantic crossing from London to NY
UN warns that gang violence is overwhelming Haiti’s once peaceful central region