WATCH LIVE: Hundreds Of Manatees Seek Warmth In Blue Spring State Park As Temperatures Drop

Blue Spring State Park is home to a first-magnitude spring that is one of the largest winter gathering sites for manatees in Florida where each year visitors can see hundreds of manatees enjoying the constant 72-degree spring water in the colder winter months.

Manatees depend on the warm water for survival, as they cannot tolerate water temperatures colder than 68 degrees for long periods of time.

Although manatees look “fat” or “blubbery,” they only have about an inch of fat and a very slow metabolism, meaning they cannot easily stay warm. This biology makes sanctuaries such as Blue Spring vital for their survival.

Now as temperatures continue to drop here in Florida, the water is getting colder too, which means that hundreds of manatees are currently seeking shelter in Blue Spring State Park.

The Save the Manatee Club, which dedicates itself to the protection of imperiled manatees and their aquatic habitat are carefully monitoring the manatees in the spring in Volusia County, and have given an update today, Thursday December 22 that there is currently 449 manatees in the spring, with many new manatees coming in each day!

You can watch the manatees live on the Save the Manatee Club webcam at Blue Spring State Park.