One significant danger for manatees is cold stress. These gentle giants need warm temperatures to thrive. They become at risk when water temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly from November to March. Their round shape is misleading; it’s not due to fat but rather due to their substantial digestive systems that help them process the plants they consume. According to Martine de Wit, a wildlife veterinarian from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Research Institute, “The key difference lies more in the kind of fat rather than the quantity. Manatees’ fat does not provide insulation.”

What Are the Signs of Cold Stress?

Cold stress is often seen in younger manatees during wintertime. Manatees affected by cold stress may show signs like bleached skin, visible abscesses, untreated wounds, heavy barnacle or algae growth, and they often appear underweight. The most alarming cases are those found far from warm-water locations.

Where Do Manatees Go to Find Warmth?

As winter approaches in mid-November, manatees search for warm-water environments, such as natural springs and water discharge areas from power plants. They conserve their energy during cold spells by resting at the bottom of springs, in mid-water, or at the surface. Even while resting, they must surface for air. If the cold persists, they may stay in warm springs or power plant discharge areas for several days or even weeks. During this time, they typically refrain from eating seagrass and can lose numerous pounds.

What Is a Manatee?

Manatees are gentle, slow-moving marine mammals that primarily feed on seagrass. In Florida, they can spend up to eight hours daily grazing on seagrasses and other aquatic plants, consuming up to 10% of their body weight in vegetation every day. They rest for 2 to 12 hours, either floating close to the water’s surface or resting on the bottom in shallow waters, typically for several hours at a time. When active, manatees must come to the surface for air every three to five minutes, but they can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes while resting.

Florida marks the northern edge of the West Indian manatee’s winter habitat, making these warm-water areas essential for their survival during colder months.

Florida manatees can be discovered extending westward through coastal Louisiana, congregating in warm waters throughout winter. For the other parts of the year, they roam Florida’s waterways searching for food, mates, or resting spots.

Watch Manatees Online

As temperatures drop in Central Florida, more manatees are expected to gather at locations like Blue Spring State Park, potentially hitting record numbers. The public can observe manatees online through the Save the Manatee Club’s above- and underwater webcams, which are available 24/7 at ManaTV.org. The live streams run during daylight hours, with highlights accessible at other times.

How Can You Help?

If you encounter a manatee showing signs of cold stress, please contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922. It is crucial not to push a stranded manatee back into the water, and avoid touching or feeding them as this may alter their natural behavior and put them at risk.

SOURCES: Save the Manatee Club, NOAA, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Southwest Florida Water Management District