RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — The chilly air across South Florida and the Treasure Coast has many of us bundled up and braving the cooler-than-average temperatures — and that includes wildlife.
Representatives at the Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach said Thursday that they counted 160 manatees at the facility, the highest number spotted all season.
WATCH BELOW: 160 manatees spotted at Manatee Lagoon amid cold snap
The gentle giants are attracted to the area by the warm-water outflows from the adjacent Florida Power & Light Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center.
Rachel Shanker, a conservation and education manager at the lagoon, explained why warm water is important for their survival.
"Manatees cannot survive in water temperatures below about 68 degrees Fahrenheit," Shanker said
The influx has delighted visitors, including a youngster named Molly, who was excited to see "the mommy and the babies."
"I like how they're cute," Molly said.
Other children were equally fascinated, though some had creative interpretations of what they were seeing. When asked what the manatees were, one child confidently answered "dinosaurs" because "they're in the water."
With temperatures expected to continue falling through the weekend and forecast lows in the 30s, workers at the lagoon said they believe sightings will likely increase.
Manatee Lagoon is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking the occasion on Feb. 7 with its annual ManateeFest, a free, family-friendly event.
The lagoon is free and open daily during manatee season, Nov. 15 – March 31. It's located at 6000 N. Flagler Drive. The center features hands-on, interactive, entertaining exhibits for visitors.
"When you come out here and you get to see them come up, stick their little noses out of the water and take a breath and see their faces, everyone just smiles and reacts in such a great way," Shanker said.
If you can't visit in person, you can watch the sea cows online on their underwater and above-water live cameras.
Anyone who sees an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee should report it to the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) so trained responders can assist.
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