Manatees Flock To Warmer Waters During Extreme FL Cold Snap

FLORIDA — Hundreds of manatees are huddling together in warmer waters across Florida during the state’s extreme cold snap this week.

A polar vortex pushed Arctic air into the Sunshine State overnight Monday, dropping
temperatures into the 20s in northern parts of the state, and temperatures down to the 30s and 40s across Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area.

During prolonged cold weather, manatees, which are warm-blooded, need access to water warmer than 68 degrees to survive, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

This is why the mammals, a protected species, make their way to springs, power plant discharge areas and other warm-water sites during cold weather, the agency said.

One popular area to view groups of manatees escaping colder waters is the TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach.

The Big Bend Power Station circulates water from Tampa Bay for cooling, then sends the clean water back into the bay, serving as a refuge for manatees during winter months, according to its website. This discharge canal is a state and federally designated manatee sanctuary.

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Another spot to find manatees during winter months is Blue Spring State Park in Orange City.

There were 768 manatees counted at the park on Thursday, according to the park’s Facebook page.

The spring run is a protected sanctuary that doesn’t allow any disturbances by people — swimming, paddling, diving or boating — from November and March, the months when manatees flock to the park’s waters to stay warm, the Facebook page said.

On Wednesday, more than 300 manatees sought refuge at Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River. Dozens of people gathered at the springs to view the manatees that afternoon.

The water temperature ranges from “72 to 74 degrees year-round right at the spring,” making it an ideal spot for manatees seeking warmth, one volunteer with Manatee Watch at the park told visitors.

“A cold snap can drop nearby water temperatures five degrees overnight,” another volunteer said.

He expects visitors to Crystal River will have more opportunities to view manatees in January.

“It’s supposed to get warmer over the weekend, but I don’t think they’ll go very far,” he said.

Three Sisters Springs will be open for free to the public during the Florida Manatee Festival later this month.

The festival takes place throughout the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 18 and 19, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be food, informational booths with conservation organizations, crafts, a pop-up store and more.

The event draws about 40,000 people each day, an employee with the Three Sisters Springs visitor services center said.