They’re slow, they’re quiet and they don’t do much but roll around in the water and eat. But viewing Florida manatees in the wild remains a popular winter activity for residents and tourists alike. Crystal River has dubbed itself the “Manatee Capital of the World.”
The winter months offer the best viewing opportunities as the manatees seek warmer inland waters to avoid a condition similar to frostbite.
Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, about 35 miles north of Orlando, reported 617 manatee present during an early December cold snap that drew the sea cows to the spring’s 72-degree water.
State officials haven’t released population figures since late 2023, and that ranged from between 8,350 and 11,730 manatees. Despite constant threats from boats and disease, 556 manatees died in 2023, well below the five-year average of 793.
Perinatal death was high in 2024, says Beth Brady, senior science and conservation associate for the nonprofit Save the Manatee Club. Oddly, that might be a positive sign for the mammal’s recovery. Malnourishment, triggered by a loss of seagrass beds that supply much of their food sources, resulted in fewer manatee births in previous years. “The fact that we see dead manatee calves now could be a good sign of manatees coming back to reproduction,” Brady says.
Seagrass beds in the Indian River Lagoon are starting to recover, but there’s a long way to go, and it’s still unclear what effect Florida’s back-to-back summer hurricanes had on manatee habitats.
“To avoid disturbing manatees while they rest in their warm-water refuges, land-based viewing is ideal,” Brady says. And wise. State law makes it illegal “for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass or disturb any manatee.
Hot Spots: Explore a map of the best places across the state to see manatees at floridatrend.com/manatees.