A Warm Welcome: About 300 Manatee Fill Three Sisters Springs to Ring in the New Year

Over 300 manatee keeping warm at Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River

Hundreds of manatee showed up at Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River on New Year’s Eve, all looking for a warm spot and maybe a little celebration, too.

You could see about 300 of them packed into the springs. Outside, the air was cold—just 35 degrees. But the water? It held steady at around 66 degrees, thanks to the spring feeding the river.

Some parts of the property stay off-limits to boats and swimmers, just to keep the manatee safe. The land is co-owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Crystal River, and both the city and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service handle its care.

Back in 2023, the Water Management District finished up a big project along the shoreline. The goal was simple: stop erosion and give the manatees a healthier place to call home.

Manatee Season

Manatee love Florida’s warm springs and power plant outflows, especially from November through March—this is what locals call “Manatee Season.” When the Gulf cools down, these gentle giants crowd into places like Blue Spring State Park, Crystal River, and Homosassa Springs. The water’s clearer in winter, so it’s easy to spot them, sometimes by the dozens. Want the best view? Show up early in the morning before everyone else arrives.

In winter, manatee need that steady 72°F water from springs or power plants. When the ocean drops below 68°F, they flock to those warmer spots. Head to Blue Spring, Three Sisters Springs, Homosassa, or Manatee Lagoon—those are your best bets, especially on chilly weekday mornings.

When summer rolls around and the water warms up, manatee spread out. They wander into rivers, estuaries, and along the coast, often in smaller groups. If you’re hoping to spot one, try kayaking on the Weeki Wachee River or paddling through Sarasota’s mangrove tunnels.

Bottom line: If you want to see a big crowd of manatee, winter’s your window. But they never really leave—just expect to work a little harder to find them when it’s warm out.