Wild Manatee Warm Water Refuge Dependency in Winter

Florida manatees have become dependent on industrial warm water outflows for winter survival, creating a conservation challenge as power plants close.

Key Facts

Manatees are tropical animals that cannot survive in water below approximately 20 degrees Celsius for extended periods
Historically, manatees used natural warm water springs as winter refuges; industrial warm water outflows are now critical
Duke Energy and other utilities maintain monitoring and feeding programs at key warm water sites
When major power plant outflows cool or shut down, manatee deaths from cold stress increase
Over 1,100 manatees died in 2021, many from starvation in the Indian River Lagoon due to seagrass loss
Supplemental feeding programs at power plant sites provide emergency nutrition during extreme cold events
Restoration of natural freshwater springs and seagrass beds is the long-term conservation solution

Welfare Considerations

Cold stress in manatees causes hypothermia that progressively impairs movement, respiration, and cardiac function. Animals found floating motionless in cold water are in critical condition. The structural dependency on industrial warm water outflows is inherently fragile - plant closures remove thermal refuges that manatees have come to rely on generationally.

What You Can Do

Support seagrass restoration programs in the Indian River Lagoon as a long-term food security measure
Advocate for careful transition planning when power plants near manatee refuges close
Donate to Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation manatee conservation programs
Report injured or cold-stressed manatees to the Florida FWC hotline
Learn about natural spring restoration efforts that reduce industrial dependency