A polar vortex recently brought freezing temperatures to much of the U.S., including Florida, where colder weather has driven manatees to seek warmer waters. Florida’s manatees, still recovering from past starvation events, are gathering at warm-water outflows from power plants and natural springs. One popular location is Florida Power & Light Company’s Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach. This free public facility, which opened in 2016, offers visitors a chance to observe manatees, which can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh 1,200 pounds. The best time to visit is from November to March when water temperatures often drop below 68°F, a critical threshold for manatee survival.

Manatees are sentinel species, meaning they reflect the health of their environment. In areas such as Indian River Lagoon, pollution has destroyed seagrass, their main food source, leading to starvation. Temporary feeding programs and habitat restoration efforts have helped reduce manatee deaths, which dropped from over 1,100 in 2021 to 565 in 2024. However, challenges remain, including an increase in calf mortality caused by earlier malnutrition and reproductive cycles resuming. Although some groups have pushed for manatees to be reclassified as endangered, they remain listed as threatened. Conservationists warn that threats like boating accidents, habitat loss, and cold stress continue to endanger the species. While progress has been made, ongoing management, public awareness, and stronger conservation efforts are essential to secure the long-term survival of Florida’s manatees.