Florida Manatees Seek Warmth at Power Plants During Cold Snap

A polar vortex drives manatees to warm-water outflows as their population shows signs of recovery from past seagrass starvation.

Manatees are gathering near Florida power plants to stay warm as a polar vortex causes a drop in coastal temperatures.
The warm-water outflows from power plants provide a critical refuge for manatees, whose survival is threatened by cold stress and habitat loss.
Florida's manatee population is recovering after a seagrass famine caused mass starvation, though calf mortality rates remain high due to lingering effects.
Efforts to reclassify manatees as endangered were recently rejected, leaving them listed as threatened despite ongoing risks from habitat degradation and boating collisions.
The public can observe manatees at locations like Manatee Lagoon, a free educational attraction in Riviera Beach, open during the winter months.