300 Manatees Invade Three Sisters Springs

*(Via the Southwest Florida Water Management District) – Manatee watch 2015: More than 300 manatees moved into Three Sisters Springs, which is why the US Fish and Wildlife Service issued another temporary closure of the waterway. Depending on tides and the manatee count, the closure could remain through the day.

According to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, as tides began to fall this morning, manatees began to move out of the interior of the Three Sisters Springs. Due to decreasing manatee numbers this morning, Three Sisters Springs will reopen at 10:00 am today. Based on observations of manatees as part of our ongoing monitoring, higher manatee use of the springs is expected during the higher tides this afternoon and colder weather tonight, therefore the springs will be closed again this afternoon at 2:00 pm.