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During the winter, the Floridan Springs welcome their most special guests, the manatees. Manatees become a common sight during the winters and hence, increase the visitor counts in these Springs. 

But why do manatees love the Floridan Springs so much, and how are they sighted year-round in these Springs? That’s what we are going to discuss. 

Why Do Manatees Love The Springs So Much?

The Floridan Springs record 72 degrees or so year-round. While this temperature might sound too cold for humans, marine animals, especially the manatees, love it like a warm blanket enclosing them. For them, the winters feel exactly like a lazy Sunday morning feels for a human being. Manatees love swimming or floating around in the spring waters while munching on the sea grasses and other marine vegetation.

Manatees may look all fat and bubbly, but in reality, they have much less fat under their skin, which means they can’t stay warm on their own during the cold winters. Hence, they decide to seek refuge in Floridan Springs.

Manatees are most commonly found in the Springs from November to March. The concentration is at maximum when the temperature gets freezing outside. Manatees native to the Floridan Springs, popularly called the Florida Manatees, are usually migratory in nature. However, it’s found that these manatees follow a route during their migration, so they somehow land back in Floridan Springs every winter. Some manatees have a preferred habitat and return to those places once they complete their migration period. 

Manatees use underwater caves and corridors to move to warmer water bodies. Thus, authorities ensure that these corridors, especially underwater caves, aren’t flooded with visitors to provide smooth transportation for manatees.

Do Manatees Like Being With Humans While In The Springs?

You might have seen your friends pose with a manatee in their diving gear. Well, know that manatees are playful marine creatures that love to be pampered. They love the attention they get around human beings. But keep in mind that if you corner them alone and begin to vigorously pat their back and take photos forcibly, they aren’t going to like it. The probability is that the manatees would get scared and might not come here for the next migration period.

In fact, reports suggest that the manatee population is falling in the Floridan Springs. The main reason is pollution, boating, and aggressive snorkelers. Many manatees have cut-marks sustained from the anchors and the motor boats, and some drop dead right there due to severe injuries. 

Since the manatees belong to the endangered list, injuring or killing the manatees is a punishable offense. 

Other Favorite Spots Of Manatees During The Winter

Apart from the Springs, manatees also tend to move near the warm water effluents of the power plants. These spots provide even warmer water; therefore, the manatees can be found in huge numbers in these places. But several old power plants are now shutting down their operations. Hence, the manatees can no longer rely on these sources to keep them warm during the cold months. The last resort, thus, are the Floridan Springs.

How To Take Care Of The Manatees In The Springs?

Not all Florida Springs are light blue. Many of them are dark; therefore, it is hard to spot a manatee swimming through them. Thus, divers and snorkelers tend to accidentally bump into their bodies, which causes a lot of discomfort for the manatees.

The best way is to wait for the instruction of the skilled divers and then explore the underwater safely, without harming any marine creatures. 

Additionally, try reducing pollution. Manatees like to munch on the sea grass wherever they go. So if it has some plastic wrapped onto it, it can get stuck in the manatee’s system and ultimately lead to their death due to choking. Therefore, clean whatever waste you generate during the picnic, and dispose of it properly.

Let’s do our part to keep the manatees in the Floridan Springs!