The US Fish and Wildlife Service temporarily recently closed down Three Sisters Springs, which is a popular tourist waterway the first week in February when over 300 manatees swarmed the area. Tourists usually visit the area to swim and kayak. It is thought that the high concentration of manatees could be a result of habitats in other parts of Florida being lost, but it’s not highly unusual for the area.
During cold weather, manatees are also known to travel to warmer waters, which is why they also frequent the TECO power plant in Tampa Bay. “Because manatees don’t have any blubber to help them stay warm, they have to come into these warm water springs to stay warm,” Kimberly Sykes explained to the Business Insider. “If not, they could get cold-stress and die.”
Manatees, also known as sea cows, are large, fully aquatic mostly herbivorous marine mammals. They are currently protected as an endangered species, and they typically inhabit shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Carribean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. When enjoying an Orlando airboat ride with Wild Florida, you can often encounter manatees. There are manatees in other areas of the world including the West Indies, Amazon and West African.
To book an Orlando airboat ride with Wild Florida, purchase tickets on our website or at the door when you come to visit. During your airboat tour, you’ll encounter some of the most interesting indigenous species known to Florida, and you’ll also experience the awe-inspiring, undeveloped area of Florida, just a short drive from the attractions. In addition to the airboat tours, we have a unique Wildlife Park that allows you to interact with some interesting characters including alligators, lemurs, and buffalo. Come visit Wild Florida today!
