Florida manatees flock to warm springs as cold temperatures hit state

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB/Gray News) - Hundreds of manatees huddled in a Florida waterway on New Year’s Eve as temperatures dropped.

Video provided by the Southwest Florida Water Management District shows up to 300 manatees huddling at Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River on New Year’s Eve.

The air temperature at the property was about 35 degrees.

However, the spring-fed water in Crystal River stays relatively constant. Water temperature measured Wednesday morning was 65.8 degrees, officials said.

The property, part of which is off-limits to boaters and swimmers to protect the manatees, is co-owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the city of Crystal River. It is managed by the city and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In 2023, the Southwest Florida Water Management District completed a project to stabilize the property’s shoreline, which helps reduce erosion and provides a critical manatee habitat.

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