Manatees Migrate to Warmer Waters in Crystal River, Florida
As the new year began, dozens of manatees made their way to warmer waters in Crystal River, Florida, giving visitors a unique show. The manatees congregated at Three Sisters Springs, a wildlife refuge on the west coast of the Sunshine State, where the waters remain at a constant 72 degrees year-round.
Dozens of manatees migrated over to warmer waters ahead of the new year and shocked visitors in Crystal River, Florida.
Manatee Migration and Habitat
The manatees were “ringing in the new year” in the warm waters of the wildlife refuge, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Visitors could be seen taking in the view from a safe distance on a boardwalk. Manatees are large, fully aquatic, marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows, and they tend to spend winters in warm waters before returning to the Gulf around April.
FILE: Mother manatee and her baby in the warm water springs of Three Sisters Springs, Florida.
(Gregory Sweeney / U.S. Fish and Wildlife / FOX Weather)
Conservation Efforts and Threats
Manatees can weigh between 440 and 1,300 pounds and have a life span of about 40 years, according to National Geographic. However, due to their slow-moving nature and size, manatees are at risk, and their population has declined over the last century. They are protected by law, but they are often accidentally hit by motorboats and sometimes become entangled in fishing nets.
Florida’s giant sea cows are preparing to start their migration back into their usual spring and summer locations after cold winter months.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently restored the shoreline around Three Sisters Springs, which will help prevent future erosion, improve water quality, and make the area safer. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages water access to the springs, which is limited during manatee season from Nov. 15 to April 1, to protect manatees seeking refuge in the warm waters of the spring.
For more information on manatees and their migration patterns, visit Here
Image Source: www.foxweather.com
