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Manatee Sightings Update: December 2025

December 3, 2025 | ,
BS507 Annie 2025 11 06cb (26)

By Cora Berchem, Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate

Annie has a new calf

Manatee Season at Blue Spring started with big excitement on Saturday, November 1, when adoptee Annie gave birth to a little calf at 3:15 p.m. in the spring run. This is Annie’s 7th calf, and we believe it is a boy! Annie was noted highly pregnant on our webcams throughout October. Since she gave birth, Annie has been hanging around the spring with the little calf, but they are going out late in the day to feed in the river.

Watch a short montage video of Annie’s pregnancy and her little calf. Note that at 0:28 in the video, Annie is accompanied by an older manatee named Vida (not an adoptee), almost as if she was giving Annie encouragement.

Annie likes to hang out in the upper part of the spring run and the boil, and she is very photogenic! These photos were taken by park ranger Jill just minutes after the calf was born.

Our research team was able to capture photos of the pair on November 6.

Footage of Annie and her little calf that our research team was able to obtain during the first two weeks of November.

Blue Spring Winter Sightings Begin

The first severe cold front hit on November 10, bringing in over 300 manatees by the end of that week, including a few adoptees!

Lily arrived early for the season—here she is on November 7.
Ester made her first season visit on November 12 but hid under a log, so this was the only photo our research team was able to obtain.
Our usually photogenic Moo Shoo decided to hide in the murky water on November 12.
Una joined Moo Shoo in the murky water on November 12.
Gator’s first season visit was on November 13, and he came far up the spring run, allowing for good pictures!
Gator’s first season visit was on November 13, and he came far up the spring run, allowing for good pictures!
Rocket made his first season visit on December 1, 2025.

Deep Dent and Flash were also seen on November 13, but they were camera shy and didn’t want to stop for a picture! 

Look for our daily updates from Blue Spring and watch the manatees live on ManaTV.org! 

Coastal Sightings At Last!

Millie spends her time at Blue Spring, in the Silver River, and up and down the east coast of Florida. Here she is resting at Blue Spring on November 13.
Adoptee Zelda was seen in the Florida Keys in early November by a local resident, who excitedly shared the sighting on social media.

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Flash was ‘posing’ for the camera during roll call on December 17.

Manatee Sightings Update: February 2026

February 1, 2026

After multiple cold fronts throughout the winter, we had seen most of the adoptees by the start of the new year. Here are some new photos and videos!

Avery's scar charts, depicting manatees in the adoption program she created. Photo courtesy of Avery's family.

A Very Special Visit to Blue Spring

February 1, 2026

On a recent cold January morning, we had the pleasure of meeting 7-year-old Avery and her family from Georgia at Blue Spring State Park!

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Ocklawaha River Advocacy Update

February 1, 2026

The Florida legislative session is in full swing, and Save the Manatee Club is actively engaged, advocating beneficial policies and funding for manatees and their habitat.