Sea cow season: Manatee numbers increasing at Blue Spring State Park

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The number of manatees passing through Blue Spring State Park is increasing by the day.

On Tuesday, volunteers from Friends of Blue Spring State Park, a citizen support organization, counted 174 manatees in the park. That’s up 85 on Monday, and 14 last Tuesday.

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November is Manatee Awareness Month, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said it is also the time of year when manatees start traveling into warm water sites across the state, including springs and power plant discharge areas.

Blue Springs State Park is a popular spot for the public to view the sea cows, which means the park can reach capacity early during the manatee season.

Read: Manatee Awareness Month: How to help save sea cows

You can click here for more information and to see a daily count of the manatees visiting the park.

VIDEO: Gov. DeSantis pledges $30 million to help save Florida manatees VIDEO: Gov. DeSantis pledges $30 million to help save Florida manatees (Mike Springer, WFTV.com/WFTV)

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