Blue Spring State Park is home to a first-magnitude spring that is one of the largest winter gathering sites for manatees in Florida. Visitors can see hundreds of manatees enjoying the constant 72-degree spring water during the colder winter months.
“Manatees depend on warm water for survival,” says Erin McDade, deputy press secretary for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, “as they have a low tolerance for water temperatures lower than 68 degrees for long periods of time. Although manatees look blubbery, they have only 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.”
The number of manatees visiting the park has grown significantly, from about 36 animals when research began in the 1970s to over 500 animals today. Although there are still many threats to manatees—habitat loss, pollution, algae blooms and collision with watercraft—Blue Spring State Park serves as a safe haven for these gentle creatures.
Learn more about visiting Blue Spring State Park and its manatee visitors in the January issue of 352 Preview Magazine at https://issuu.com/352preview/docs/352_jan22/16.
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