Manatees At Risk During Cold Spell - Please stay away from 3 Sisters Springs

Photo by Steve Sapienza, aka. Eddyline Steve, on the cover of today's St Pete Times, with an article on page 1B & 10B.

There is a side-bar article on 10B titled "Visitors warned away from Three Sisters Springs".  In it Michael Lusk, manager for the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is quoted, "The ideal scenario during this unusual cold spell would be for manatees to rest undisturbed inside the springs."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering closing 3 Sisters Springs during the cold spell, something they don't want to do.

This must be serious.  And it comes after a record number of deaths in 2009, when 429 manatee deaths have been recorded in the state.

Please if you must go during this cold spell, please go to the main springs where they have more room and please stay away from 3 Sisters.

And, thanks to Steve for taking this from shore where he would not disturb them himself.

Thanks,

Big D