VIDEO: Manatees huddle together to stay warm during chilly morning temperatures
Jan 16, 2026
Hundreds of manatees huddled together at Three Sister Springs in Crystal River on Friday, trying to stay warm during chilly morning temperatures. Temperatures at the Weather Stem Station in Crystal River dropped to the mid-30s
in the morning hours of Jan. 16. Luckily, the waters in the springs stay at 72 degrees year-round.WATCH: Manatees huddle together to stay warm during cold morning temperatures VIDEO: Manatees huddle together to stay warm during chilly morning temperatures The manatees gather in the springs and in the waters outside Tampa Electric's Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach when temperatures drop because they can develop a life-threatening condition called cold stress when the waters drop below 68 degrees. Tampa Bay 28 flew a drone over the Three Sister Springs on Friday morning.
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