Current:Home > ContactHundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch -消息
Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-14 08:25:02
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! (6111)
Related
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- JoJo Siwa Curses Out Fans After Getting Booed at NYC Pride
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Down Time
- NHL free agency highlights: Predators, Devils, others busy on big-spending day
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Cup Noodles introduces new s'mores instant ramen flavor in an ode to summer camping
- Gregg Berhalter faces mounting pressure after USMNT's Copa America exit
- Dangerously high heat builds in California and the south-central United States
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- America is obsessed with narcissists. Is Trump to blame?
Ranking
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Biden administration proposes rule to protect workers from extreme heat
- Highlights from Supreme Court term: Rulings on Trump, regulation, abortion, guns and homelessness
- Kate Middleton's Next Public Outing May Be Coming Soon
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- The Real Reason Nick Cannon Insured His Balls for $10 Million
- Biden administration proposes rule for workplaces to address excessive heat
- Eva Amurri Claps Back at Critics Scandalized By Her Wedding Dress Cleavage
Recommendation
At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
What's a personality hire? Here's the value they bring to the workplace.
Court orders white nationalists to pay $2M more for Charlottesville Unite the Right violence
At least 9 dead, including an entire family, after landslides slam Nepal villages
Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
What is the birthstone for July? Learn more about the gem's color and history.
AccuWeather: False Twitter community notes undermined Hurricane Beryl forecast, warnings
Attorneys face deadline to wrap Jan. 6 prosecutions. That could slide if Trump wins