When Are Manatees in Crystal River?

The manatee season at Crystal River NWR begins in mid-November and ends in late March. This is when the manatee sanctuaries go in effect. During the winter months, manatees come to the springs of Crystal River NWR to conserve the energy necessary to survive the cold Gulf waters. Manatees are not here to amuse visitors.

What is the best time to see manatees at Crystal River?

The best time to see wild manatees at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is from November-March. The weather is at its coolest, and the manatees are the most concentrated around the warm water springs that they depend on for their survival.

Are there always manatees in Crystal River?

Because the water temperature in the springs of Kings Bay, the headwaters of Crystal River remains a constant 72 degree temperature, over 400 manatees will migrate to Crystal River each winter to seek refuge from the cold Gulf waters. Every year, a number of manatees remain in the bay throughout the summer months.